Lot Essay
The same design was used by Smith for a pair of wine-coolers on stands for the Earl of Lonsdale, sold Christie's, London, November 24, 1971.
The arms are those of Prince Christopher Andreevich Lieven, born in Kiev 6 May 1774, the son of Baron Andrei Romanovich Von Lieven and his wife Charlotte Karlovna, nee von Posse. Christopher joined the Semenovskii Regiment in 1791, rose rapidly in rank transferring to the Vladimir Dragoons then to the Tula Rifle Regiment, serving in the Persian campaign and in the Caucasus. In 1799 he was elevated to the rank of Court in honour of his mother's services to the Imperial Family. He served during the Napoleonic campaigns, was a witness to the Treaty of Tilsit, and became General-Lieutenant in 1807. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1808 and was appointed plenipotentiary extraordinary to Berlin in 1809. In 1812 he was appointed to London as Ambassador where he was well-respected in political and diplomatic circles until his return to Russia in 1834. As Governor to the Tsarevich (later Alexander II) he accompanied his charge to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin and dying after a short illness in Rome on 29 December 1838.
In 1800 Christopher Andreevich married Daria (Dorothea) Christoforovna Benkendorff (born 1785) who accompanied her husband on his diplomatic postings. Her salons were known throughout Europe, herself a leader in London Society, as well as mistress of the Austrian foreign minister Metternich and the Duke of Wellington as well as acquiring a reputation as an "intriguante". Dissatisfied with marriage she refused to return to Russia with her husband, remaining in London for health reasons before moving to Baden and finally settling in paris. Here in 1837 she met the French politician Guizot to whom she became very close. She died in Paris on 15 January 1857. Much as been written about her; her correspondence with Earl Grey was published in 3 volumes in London in 1890; and with Lord Palmerston in 1943.
The arms are those of Prince Christopher Andreevich Lieven, born in Kiev 6 May 1774, the son of Baron Andrei Romanovich Von Lieven and his wife Charlotte Karlovna, nee von Posse. Christopher joined the Semenovskii Regiment in 1791, rose rapidly in rank transferring to the Vladimir Dragoons then to the Tula Rifle Regiment, serving in the Persian campaign and in the Caucasus. In 1799 he was elevated to the rank of Court in honour of his mother's services to the Imperial Family. He served during the Napoleonic campaigns, was a witness to the Treaty of Tilsit, and became General-Lieutenant in 1807. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1808 and was appointed plenipotentiary extraordinary to Berlin in 1809. In 1812 he was appointed to London as Ambassador where he was well-respected in political and diplomatic circles until his return to Russia in 1834. As Governor to the Tsarevich (later Alexander II) he accompanied his charge to Stockholm, Copenhagen, Berlin and dying after a short illness in Rome on 29 December 1838.
In 1800 Christopher Andreevich married Daria (Dorothea) Christoforovna Benkendorff (born 1785) who accompanied her husband on his diplomatic postings. Her salons were known throughout Europe, herself a leader in London Society, as well as mistress of the Austrian foreign minister Metternich and the Duke of Wellington as well as acquiring a reputation as an "intriguante". Dissatisfied with marriage she refused to return to Russia with her husband, remaining in London for health reasons before moving to Baden and finally settling in paris. Here in 1837 she met the French politician Guizot to whom she became very close. She died in Paris on 15 January 1857. Much as been written about her; her correspondence with Earl Grey was published in 3 volumes in London in 1890; and with Lord Palmerston in 1943.