Topics

1

Imperial Russian Antiques / Identity of person in painting?

« on: May 07, 2006, 09:59:17 AM »

Everyone's opinion on the identity of the person in this painting?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7412946398&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:US:1

2

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / The Perfect Summer by Juliet Nicolson

« on: May 04, 2006, 06:31:39 AM »

This is the enchanting and absorbing story of a remarkable season; defining a world on the cusp of irrevocable change. One summer of nearly a hundred years ago saw one of the high sunlit meadows of English history. A new king was crowned; audiences swarmed to Covent Garden to see the Ballet Russes and Nijinsky's gravity-defying leaps. The aristocracy was at play, bounding from house party to the next - the socialite Lady Michelham travelled with her nineteen yards of pearls. Rupert Brooke (a 23-year old poet in love with love, Keats, marrons glaces and truth) swam in the river at Grantchester.  But perfection was over-reaching itself. The rumble of thunder from the summer's storms presaged not only the bloody war years ahead: the country was brought to near standstill by industrial strikes, and unrest exposed the chasm between privileged and poor - as if the heat was torturing those imprisoned in society's straitjacket and stifled by the city smog. Children, seeking relief from the scorching sun, drowned in village ponds.  What the protagonists could not have known is that they were playing out the backdrop to WWI; in a few years time the world, let alone England, would never be the same again. Through the eyes of a series of exceptional individuals - a debutante, a suffragette, a politician, a trade unionist, a butler and the Queen - Juliet Nicolson illuminates a turning point in history. With the gifts of a great storyteller, she rekindles a vision of a time when the sun shone, but its shadows fell on all.

3

The Alexander Palace / Pensioners' Stables

« on: October 03, 2005, 09:53:45 PM »

September 16, 2005, Photos of Pensioners' Stables:

4

Russian Imperial Medals, Orders, Uniforms & Militaria / Naval Board

« on: October 02, 2005, 09:10:29 PM »

Any opinions on this?

5

The Alexander Palace / Current Photos of Llama House

« on: September 23, 2005, 07:59:01 PM »

6

The Alexander Palace / Current Photos of Arsenal in Alexander Park

« on: September 23, 2005, 12:03:19 PM »

7

The Alexander Palace / September 16-17, 2005, Photos of AP

« on: September 23, 2005, 11:13:54 AM »

Where Alexandra's balcony would have been:



The rear of the parade rooms and the wing where the Navy is still located:

8

Imperial Russian History / David Francis - Martha Slaughter

« on: July 25, 2005, 10:27:57 PM »

My copy of Amabassador David Francis' book, "Russian from the American Embassy", is signed by Francis and dedicated to a Martha Slaughter:



There are several notes throughout the book, in pencil.  This one is on page 150:



This one is on page 237:



As you can see, it appears as though the person making the notes knew Francis fairly well as it appears as though he sent her (or him) a letter and some lace from Vologda.  I suppose there is a good chance that the person making the notes was Martha Slaughter.

Does anyone know who Martha Slaughter was?

9

Imperial Russian History / American Embassy in Petersburg / Petrograd

« on: July 24, 2005, 03:03:07 AM »

Where was the American Embassy located in Petersburg / Petrograd?  I have read this before, but can't locate the information.

10

Tsarskoe Selo Town / Race Track

« on: July 09, 2005, 06:10:28 PM »

This is the Imperial Pavilion at the Officers' Races in Tsarskoe Selo (August 1896):



Where is this track?  Is it what appears to be an oval race track in the upper right-hand corner of this partial map of Tsarskoe Selo?

11

Tsarskoe Selo Town / Help with locations on map

« on: June 20, 2005, 12:11:23 AM »

Following is a portion of a pre-revolutionary map of Tsarskoe Selo.  I'm in the process of trying to fill in the location of various sites.

Can someone tell me the exact location of the Imperial RR Pavilion?  From everything I have seen, it's my guess that it is located on the rail line close to the Egyptian Gates.

Also, where is Anna Vyrabova's house?  Is it the small orange colored building, on the corner, just north of the Lyceum?

Next, does anyone know the identity of the small orange colored building just to the southwest of the Llama pavillion?

Lastly, where was the elephant kept?

12

Russian Imperial Medals, Orders, Uniforms & Militaria / Shoulder Board ID

« on: June 17, 2005, 10:41:01 AM »

Some of you have already seen these, but for those of you who have not, do you have any thoughts on the ID of these boards:

13

News Links / Petrodvorets Renaming

« on: May 05, 2005, 08:59:09 PM »

ST. PETERSBURG (SPT) - St. Petersburg legislators plan to consider the question of changing the name Petrodvorets back to its historical name, Peterhof, Interfax reported Tuesday.

The German-sounding Peterhof was renamed Petrodvorets in 1944 when the town was liberated from German troops.

Both authorities and regular residents of Petrodvorets have asked for the original name of the town to be restored, said Alexei Kovalyov, a deputy in the Legislative Assembly.

"The renaming of Peterhof was as silly as changing the name of St. Petersburg to Petrograd in 1914," he said.

http://www.sptimes.ru/archive/times/1067/top/t_15645.htm

14

Imperial Russian History / WWI - Mogiliev - Stavka

« on: April 04, 2005, 09:40:05 PM »

Does anyone know what is currently located at the site of the Stavka at Mogiliev?

15

Russian Imperial Medals, Orders, Uniforms & Militaria / Bulla Photo ID

« on: March 27, 2005, 07:39:02 PM »

I have had this Bulla photo for some time.  Does anyone recognize any of the officers pictured or the location?