Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich: A Fabergé Imperial Presentation Stickpin. Fabergé, Workmaster August Hollming, ...

Description

Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich: A Fabergé Imperial Presentation Stickpin
Fabergé, Workmaster August Hollming, St. Petersburg, 1908-1917
3-1/8 inches (7.9 cm)
0.6 grams (0.01 troy ounces)

PROVENANCE:
With Wartski, London;
Private Collection, California acquired from the above.


This stickpin in its original case bears the crowned cypher of Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich of Russia (b. 12 October 1876) was a grandson of Emperor Alexander II and the eldest surviving son of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich and Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna (née Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin). As first cousin to Nicholas II, he stood third in line to the throne at the time of the 1917 Revolution, following the Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich. Other presentation pieces bearing the cypher of a K and anchor include a cigarette case in the Fabergé Museum, St. Petersburg, and cufflinks

Recent studies reveal that during the Revolution, Kirill-together with his uncle Grand Duke Paul and cousin Grand Duke Michael-sought to safeguard the throne for Nicholas II amid growing unrest (Azar/Nicholson pp. 47-51; Hasegawa pp. 212-215). During the February Revolution, he led his Naval Guards Regiment to the Tauride Palace and placed them under the authority of the Imperial State Duma to maintain public order. Far from an act of treachery, as émigré critics alleged, both contemporary and modern historians (Mossolov p. 69; Hasegawa p. 253) have interpreted Kirill's actions as an attempt to stabilize the crumbling monarchy.


Estimate: $5,000 - $7,000.

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