Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna: An Imperial Fabergé Diamond-Set and Strawberry Red Guilloché Enameled Presentation Brooch

Description

Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna: An Imperial Fabergé Diamond-Set and Strawberry Red Guilloché Enameled Presentation Brooch
Fabergé, Workmaster Alfred Thielemann, St. Petersburg, 1899-1908, with scratched inventory Number 78566
0-1/2 x 1-1/4 inches (1.3 x 3.2 cm)
4 grams

PROVENANCE:
Acquired by the Imperial Cabinet for Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna from Fabergé on August 19, 1906, for 135 rubles;
Mr. Romanchenko, presented by the above, 1908;
Private Collection, California


The offered lot was acquired by the Imperial Cabinet at a cost of 135 rubles for use as a gift during the trip of the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna to Norway and Denmark in 1908. It was presented to the Assistant Head of Operations of the St. Petersburg-Warsaw Railway, Mr. Romanchenko, for services rendered during the trip.

Following the death of Emperor Alexander III in 1894, the Dowager Empress established a tradition of traveling abroad regularly, particularly during the summer months when she was not required at court or in St. Petersburg. Her visits often took her to Denmark to see her siblings, and she frequently stayed with her sister, Queen Alexandra, at Villa Hvidøre-a seaside residence the two had jointly acquired in 1906.

In 1908, Maria Feodorovna became the first member of the Russian Imperial family to visit Norway. The visit followed the 1905 referendum in which Carl of Denmark was elected to the Norwegian throne as King Haakon VII. His consort, Queen Maud-daughter of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra-was thus the Dowager Empress's niece.

Heritage Auctions thanks Dr. Valentin Skurlov for his assistance with the research of this lot, as well as Anna and Vincent Palmade for their guidance.


Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000.

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