There were several important centers of gold and silver work in Russia but I will focus mainly on Moscow (Moscow work tended to consist of traditional Russian design) and St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg silversmiths developed a new style that had a western orientation yet retained Russian characteristics).

From about 1830 until 1917, Russian aristocrats favoured English design (especially in match safes) and Russian silver work showed evidence of that liking. The idea of combining European art with Russian technical genius produced great pieces. What was en vogue in European countries was adopted at once but altered in the Russian way: larger dimensions, a high level of workmanship, and more expensive than the European models they were inspired by.

Russian matchbox holders exist in different materials and styles – but mainly in the "classic six": silver, silver/niello, silver niello (souvenirs from Caucasus), silver/enamel (cloisonné, champlevé, plique á jour), silver laquer and paper maché.

Many of the Russian matchbox holders used enamel as a decorative element. Thus from 1860 on the 17th century style of cloisonné enamel work was resumed with its tendencies toward an "oriental look".

From a technical point of view, enamelled matchbox holders represent the most complicated craftsmanship of the Russian smiths. Many decorative techniques were combined with enamelling to produce an integrated whole; some of them are punching, chasing, engraving and guilloché technique.

The matchbox holders came in different sizes - here are the measures of the various models in mm

Russian matchbox holders: types and measures in mm.

2nd ARTEL	5th ARTEL	Wejde	Warjus	Ritmejr	Sbitnijev

Skvorzov	Katorskij	Kilpelainen	Kangin	Kangin	Kangin

Rukawischnikov	Gejchtman	Spandikov	Gejchtman	Iwanov	Goloschtapov

Posen	Fabergé	Schepelev	Nasarov

Rukawischnikov	Skvorzov	unknown

Kapilov	Kapilov	Kapilov	Kapilov	Abrosimov

Abrosimov	unknown	unknown

Souvenirs from Caucasus and Jalta

Agafonov	Agafonov	Gustav Klingert	Olsonius	Gustav Klingert	Warjus

Gustav Klingert	Gustav Klingert	Kilpelainen	unknown	Schaposchnikov

Sazikov	Morozov

Vishnijakov	Vishnijakov	Lukutin	Lukutin

Enamel box by P. Ovtschinnikov	GULAG prisoner's work