Lot Essay
This cigarette-case, with its deeply punched neo-empire motifs, bears great similarity in decoration to the Pelican Egg of 1897 which was presented by Tsar Nicholas II to his mother, the Dowager Empress Mariya Feodorovna (now in the collection of the Virginia Museum of Art, Richmond, Virginia; The Lillian Thomas Pratt Collection, Acc. No. 47-20-35). This neo-empire taste carried through the end of the century, and is evidenced in a number of other pieces produced by Fabergé.
Admiral Grand Duke Aleksei Aleksandrovitch of Russia was born in 1850, the third son of the Emperor Aleksander II and his wife, Empress Mariya Aleksandrovna. Entering the naval service in 1874, Grand Duke Aleksei celebrated his 25th anniversary of service to the Crown in 1899, when this case was presented to him by his brothers and their wives.
Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovitch of Russia (1847-1909) second son of Aleksander II marrried Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Grand Duchess Mariya Pavlovna after her conversion and marriage). He served as Governor-General of St. Petersburg until the Revolution, when he, his wife, and their children fled Russia. His son, Kirill Vladimirovich, later declared himself head of the House of Romanov.
Grand Duke Sergei Aleksandrovitch of Russia (1857-1905) fourth son of Alexander II married Princess Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmdstadt (Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna after her marriage), sister of Empress Aleksandra Feodorovna. He served as Governor-General of Moscow until his assassination by anarchists in 1905. After his death, Grand Duchess Elizaveta took holy orders and founded a convent in Moscow, from which she was removed during the Revolution. She and other members of the Romanov family were assassinated at Alapaievsk in 1918.
Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovitch of Russia (1860-1919) the youngest of Alexander II's children, married the younger sister of the King of Greece the year this case was presented, and later married morganatically, resulting in issue with the Princely title of Paley.
Admiral Grand Duke Aleksei Aleksandrovitch of Russia was born in 1850, the third son of the Emperor Aleksander II and his wife, Empress Mariya Aleksandrovna. Entering the naval service in 1874, Grand Duke Aleksei celebrated his 25th anniversary of service to the Crown in 1899, when this case was presented to him by his brothers and their wives.
Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovitch of Russia (1847-1909) second son of Aleksander II marrried Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Strelitz (Grand Duchess Mariya Pavlovna after her conversion and marriage). He served as Governor-General of St. Petersburg until the Revolution, when he, his wife, and their children fled Russia. His son, Kirill Vladimirovich, later declared himself head of the House of Romanov.
Grand Duke Sergei Aleksandrovitch of Russia (1857-1905) fourth son of Alexander II married Princess Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmdstadt (Grand Duchess Elizaveta Feodorovna after her marriage), sister of Empress Aleksandra Feodorovna. He served as Governor-General of Moscow until his assassination by anarchists in 1905. After his death, Grand Duchess Elizaveta took holy orders and founded a convent in Moscow, from which she was removed during the Revolution. She and other members of the Romanov family were assassinated at Alapaievsk in 1918.
Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovitch of Russia (1860-1919) the youngest of Alexander II's children, married the younger sister of the King of Greece the year this case was presented, and later married morganatically, resulting in issue with the Princely title of Paley.