1
The Windsors / Re: Prince William and Catherine, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
« on: July 22, 2013, 02:39:27 PM »
Yes, Congratulations! For he's a jolly good fellow!
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
I More ironic is the fact that the man George V entrusted with the transaction, Count Vladimir Kleinmichel, received in the 1060’s the coveted title Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO), given for services rendered to the English royal family”
Does anyone know how Count Vladimir Kleinmichel is related to Countess Marie Kleinmichel? Were there any other Kleinmichels to reside in England?
Count Vladimir is a grand-nephew of Countess Marie's (if you speak about Maria Eduardovna, nee Keller (1846-1931)) spouse Count Nikolai. Nikolai's brother Vladimir is a grandfather of Vladimir-younger.
QuoteI have read references to Mme. Brissac and her establishment. I also know that there was a substantial group of French people living in St. Petersburg. I was wondering if anyone knew more about Mme. Brissac. Does she belong to the French Ducal family de Brissac?
Here are a couple of photos of the Brisac workshop, in the immediate pre-war period of about 1912-1914, judging by the style of the costumes:
I was looking through Massie's N&A looking for references of OTMA's dresses, and instead came up with Alexandra's clothing. Since Alexandra isn't a part of OTMA and there is no thread dedicated to her clothes (aside from a coronation dress thread) informal, or not, and decided to open this one up. Here I have an excerpt from Massie's book detailing Alexandra's clothing.
"In the evening, Alexandra wore white or cream silk gowns embroidered in silver and blue worn with diamonds in her hair and pearls at her throat. She disliked filmy lingerie; her undergarments and her her sleeping gowns were made of fine, embroidered linen. Her shoes were low-heeled and pointed, usually bronze or white suede. Outdoors she carried a parasol against the sun, even when wearing a wide-brimmed hat."
(Also, her gowns were designed by St. Petersburg fashion dictator Mme. Brissac.)
I can barely knit, but my friend, who is a pro, said it would take him a week to complete the eagle . I can't mention his name because it would sound like an endorsement, but his work usually goes on one off gowns but also opera costumes [as anyone could see them but they show up under the lights. Also, gold work is very expensive. He does it only on commision.
What you said about boys being apprenticed is still true, all over the world. In my case, our altar cloths and vestements were embroidered by by boys in a monastery in Poland [I think it was, that is where the main monastery was/is. Hopefully child labour laws applied. They were apprenticed [old term] trade taring [new term] they were not part of the religious community.
I, too, think the embroidery looks extremely complicated - especially the eagle - to have been done by one who doesn't embroider for a living, but the description from the most recent sale identified this pillowcase in no uncertain terms as being embroidered by Alexandra. Still, one cannot dismiss this as being too complicated for her to have embroidered it. She did embroidery for years and years and surely must have developed some degree of expertise through constant practice.
I did show the picture a friend of mine who is anexpert embroiderer and remarked much the same, he thinks it was professional work and does gold work as well. Other than historic interest and an example of gold work at its best, we both think the ugly.
Pillow embroidered by Alexandra. Sold by Sotheby's in 2001, sold again recently for $6,500.
I know of one kind of embroidery that doesn't need a hoop; I can't seem to remember it though! *scowl* I know the photo your talking about, taken during house arrest in 1917 at the AP Park @ Tsarskoe Selo. The embroidery is so nice! Anyone have any photos of the embroidery today?
Could someone help me find some more information about Ada Winans?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Winans
She was the (second) wife of prince Paolo Troubetzkoy, and I' ve much admired a statue of her in the Galleria Nazionale d' Arte Moderna in Rome, but it seems hard to find more on her ...
Forgive my ignorance please. Over the decades there have been many sales of jewelry, dishes, and other personal effects of the Romanovs, but have there been any of the vast amount of decorative sewing done by royal ladies? I did see one cushion cover done by Alexandra in pink and golds. It was exquisite.
All the best, Kitt
In every photo that I have seen of Alexandra (or her daughters) embroidering, I notice that it does not look like she used an embroidery hoop. Was this the way everyone embroidered back then? It seems like it would be difficult to maintain the proper tension of the stitches without using a hoop. Then I thought maybe she just used a small hoop which you would not necessarily see in the photos......does anyone know about the embroidery techniques of her day and whether or not she used a hoop when she embroidered. Also, I know that she was an avid knitter......I wonder if she ever crocheted? I am curious about these things because I, too, am a person who loves to do needlework. Thanks for any info anyone may have.