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拍品專文
This Imperial presentation ring was given by Emperor Alexander I to Matthias Norberg (1747-1826), a professor of Greek and Oriental languages at Lund University in Sweden. Mathias Norberg’s biography, published in the Acts of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences of 1826, mentions that he was known for his rhetorical excellence and gave public speeches on behalf of the Academy on important occasions.
In 1802, Professor Norberg was asked to give a eulogy at the funeral of Charles Louis (1755-1801), Hereditary Prince of Baden, who was the father of Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna (1779-1826), also known as Princess Louise of Baden. Charles Louis tragically died in as sleigh accident in Sweden on his way back home to Germany in December 1801. Emperor Alexander I attended the funeral of his father-in-law, and presented this jewelled ring to Professor Norberg in gratitude for his service to the family (Kungliga Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar för år 1826 [Acts of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences of 1826], Stockholm, 1827, p. 363).
Jewels incorporating pink topaz and diamonds held particular significance for the Imperial Family in the early nineteenth century. Other examples include a pink topaz and diamond parure commissioned by Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna from Jean François André Duval. The set, which is now held in the Royal Collection of Sweden, was completed in 1811 and presented by Maria Feodorovna to her daughter, Maria Pavlovna in celebration of the birth of her second daughter, Augusta Louisa Katherina. Interestingly the pink topazes used in this example by Duval were sourced from Brazil, as were those in a related suite of pink topaz-set earrings and necklace also commissioned from Duval in 1818. The 1818 commission was given by Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna to her then seven-year-old granddaughter Augusta and is now held in a private collection (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, Jewels from Imperial St. Petersburg, London, 2012, p. 29 and 42-45). Given the contemporaneous bestowal of the present diamond and pink topaz-mounted ring by Emperor Alexander I, it is probable that it was also commissioned by Duval and incorporates a Brazilian stone.
The use of pink topaz for personal presentations by the Imperial Family extended to a select group of important individuals outside of the family, such as Professor Norberg. A further example of pink topaz’s use in more intimate exchanges can be seen in a similarly designed fermoir, given by Alexander I to Ulrika Möllersvärd circa 1809 (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, op. cit., London, 2012, p. 64).
We are grateful to Dr Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm for her assistance in researching the present lot.
In 1802, Professor Norberg was asked to give a eulogy at the funeral of Charles Louis (1755-1801), Hereditary Prince of Baden, who was the father of Empress Elizabeth Alexeievna (1779-1826), also known as Princess Louise of Baden. Charles Louis tragically died in as sleigh accident in Sweden on his way back home to Germany in December 1801. Emperor Alexander I attended the funeral of his father-in-law, and presented this jewelled ring to Professor Norberg in gratitude for his service to the family (Kungliga Vetenskaps-Akademiens Handlingar för år 1826 [Acts of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences of 1826], Stockholm, 1827, p. 363).
Jewels incorporating pink topaz and diamonds held particular significance for the Imperial Family in the early nineteenth century. Other examples include a pink topaz and diamond parure commissioned by Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna from Jean François André Duval. The set, which is now held in the Royal Collection of Sweden, was completed in 1811 and presented by Maria Feodorovna to her daughter, Maria Pavlovna in celebration of the birth of her second daughter, Augusta Louisa Katherina. Interestingly the pink topazes used in this example by Duval were sourced from Brazil, as were those in a related suite of pink topaz-set earrings and necklace also commissioned from Duval in 1818. The 1818 commission was given by Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna to her then seven-year-old granddaughter Augusta and is now held in a private collection (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, Jewels from Imperial St. Petersburg, London, 2012, p. 29 and 42-45). Given the contemporaneous bestowal of the present diamond and pink topaz-mounted ring by Emperor Alexander I, it is probable that it was also commissioned by Duval and incorporates a Brazilian stone.
The use of pink topaz for personal presentations by the Imperial Family extended to a select group of important individuals outside of the family, such as Professor Norberg. A further example of pink topaz’s use in more intimate exchanges can be seen in a similarly designed fermoir, given by Alexander I to Ulrika Möllersvärd circa 1809 (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, op. cit., London, 2012, p. 64).
We are grateful to Dr Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm for her assistance in researching the present lot.