Lot Essay
Educated in England and at the University of Oxford with Lord Curzon and Edward (later Sir Edward) Gray, Nasser-ol-Molk was president of the Persian pro-constitutionalist cabinet of 1907. Arrested and thrown in goal by the anti-constitutionalist Mohammad Ali Shah, he was saved from execution after intervention by the British legation. He was regent during the minority of the last Qajar ruler, Soltan Ahmad Shah, from 1910 to 1913 when the latter reached his majority.
Researching the archives of the Imperial Cabinet and based on the number on the back of the miniature, Valentin Skurlov was able to locate to which Imperial Presentation frame was allocated the above miniature depicting Tsar Nicholas II in the uniform of the Chevalier Gardes regiment. The above Imperial Presentation frame bought at the cost of 2,300 roubles from the Fabergé firm was given to Nasser-ol-Molk, regent of Persia on 8 June 1914.
There were only 30 Imperial Presentation frames ever produced and offered to 16 important dignitaries or Heads of States. 16 such frames are known to have been made by Fabergé with the possibilities of three others. Eleven of these frames were given to foreigners, including this example.
Researching the archives of the Imperial Cabinet and based on the number on the back of the miniature, Valentin Skurlov was able to locate to which Imperial Presentation frame was allocated the above miniature depicting Tsar Nicholas II in the uniform of the Chevalier Gardes regiment. The above Imperial Presentation frame bought at the cost of 2,300 roubles from the Fabergé firm was given to Nasser-ol-Molk, regent of Persia on 8 June 1914.
There were only 30 Imperial Presentation frames ever produced and offered to 16 important dignitaries or Heads of States. 16 such frames are known to have been made by Fabergé with the possibilities of three others. Eleven of these frames were given to foreigners, including this example.