Discussions about Russian History > Imperial Russian Antiques
Napkins OH?
aleksandr pavlovich:
--- Quote from: rgt9w on January 30, 2012, 06:43:56 PM ---In "Nicholas II: The Imperial Family" by Abris Publishers, an Olga Nikolaevna napkin is pictured (page 72). The napkin is described as coming from the dowry of Grand Duchess Olga Nikoaevna.
--- End quote ---
Yes, thank you, "rgt9w," the creation of monogramed dinner napkins for a Grand Duchess' impending dowry makes sense. I cannot conceive that each sibling of the children of NII would utilize their own individually woven monogrammed napkin for commom, "every day" meals. Most likely the family would all, IMO, utilize the standard royal arms design of the Emperor. Specially monogrammed cyphers of each of the children (in the capacity of CHILDREN) undoubted surrendered their place to the Emperor's design. When a child grew up to the point of leaving the family, THEN flatware, porcelain, linen, etc. would bear the newly created (and possibly conjoined) arms and cyphers. One of my family members has several pieces of the Empress Maria Feo.'s travelling trunk luggage interior packaging linen, all worked in raised threads with her cypher and the imperial crown. My family member likewise owns two of the Grand Duchess Olga A.'s handerchiefs, like-wise adorned. The provenance is impeccable. The inference was that these personages were immenently ready to/or had established their separation from the IF and begin their own existence/new identity.
A silver desert fork, with Saint Petersburg hallmarks and nicely engraved with the Imperial Crown and the elongated Cyrillic initial "E" indicates that it belonged to an adult family member who has attained such a standing/"freedom" to earn the right to have her flatware marked for personal usage. This is in my personal collection from a reputable west-coast USA individual who deals in such items. I also have examples of the Imperial Porcelain Manufactory specimens from the reigns of Catherine II (The Floral Everyday service), Nicholas I (in the apple-green Serves style), Alexander III (The Coronation Service) and Nicholas II (The cobalt ringed Tsarskoe Selo Palace "Everyday Service.") I am planning on privately disposing of these items to the market most likely this year, as I no longer wish to be burdened with personal declining interest in the era as well as their display, insurance and storage. They will be competitively sold,not donated (albeit a few possible exceptions). so that others may have the joy of private ownership. I bought these as well as other items in good faith and provenance from trustworthy dealers, have owned them for years and now intend to effectively and ethically "cash them in." I see upcoming extended living/travel plans for me back to Europe, which the proceeds of these and the many like items will help! Regards, AP.
Forum Admin:
I would not call these napkins "common", but they are not that rare either. Remember that literally hundreds of them were made at a time. As each Grand Duchess or Grand Duke came of age, each was then entitled to and provided with their own personal services of porcelain, silver, napkins etc. I have pieces, for example, from Alexander III as Tsetsarevich, with his cypher of "AA" for Alexander Alexandrovich. These things would have been used for tea or meals where the family was not together at table. Breakfast for example.
I have seen five or six of these Nicholas II napkins on the market, and the Romanov descendants have them as well, since many dozens were in the trunks sent to England after the murders in Ekaterinburg. They sell for about 400-500 each. The Olga Nicholaievna napkin did also probably come from Xenia's things. They were in the trunks from Ekaterinburg as well. They are scarcer and probably would fetch $750-1000.
AP, please contact me directly about disposing of your collection. I am always looking to add to my collection of similar things, and prefer private party sales over dealers.
Best.
FA
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