BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF ALEXANDER II

Details

A PAIR OF PORCELAIN BOTTLE COOLERS FROM THE BERLIN SERVICE
BY THE IMPERIAL PORCELAIN FACTORY, ST PETERSBURG, PERIOD OF ALEXANDER II
Each cylindrical, on a spreading gilt-rimmed foot, the body centring two black Imperial double-headed eagles holding the coats-of-arms of the Russian Empire and the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, on white ground, with gilt-rimmed moulded border, flanked by gilt acanthus scroll handles, marked under base with green underglaze factory mark
6½ in. (15.2 cm.) high

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Sotheby's, London, 7 December 2005, lot 26.
Acquired at the above sale by the present owner.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

Brought to you by

Aleksandra Babenko

ababenko@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2489

Lot Essay

The Berlin service was commissioned by Emperor Frederick II of Prussia for Grand Duke Paul Petrovich, heir to the Russian throne. The exceptional quality of the gift reflected the high expectations placed upon the future ruler of the Russian Empire by the Prussian king. The service features the Imperial double-headed eagle with two coats of arms - one for Imperial Russia and the other for the Duchy of Holstein-Gottorp, Paul's patriarchal arms.

It is not known where the service was kept when it was first presented to the Grand Duke. However, towards the end of the 19th century the majority was kept at Gatchina Palace, his main country residence. According to records from 1884, the service comprised 357 pieces. After 1917, these pieces were housed in the museum established at Gatchina.

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