A Russian early 20th century silver and niello belt. marked Kostroma 1899-1908.

From the collection of Erik T Nyström (1879-1963). Mr. Nyström was a Swedish geology professor, and writer. He lived most of his life in China and took the name 新常福, Hsin Ch'ang Foo.
He came out to China in 1902 and came to work with the creation of the Shangxi University, where he was head of the Science Department. He came to work in his geological studies with several other well know men at the time such as Johan Gunnar Andersson, Felix Tegengren, Bernhard Karlgren, Erik Norin and David Sjölander. He founded the Nyström Institute of Scientific Research in Shanshi. From 1931 on he lived in Peking until 1954 when he returned to Sweden.
Nyström published several journals of his research and wrote several books upon the life in China at the time. During the reign of the last Emperor he received the rank of a Mandarin, and was honored with being allowed to wear a blue insignia. He became a member of the British Royal Geographical Society.