Romanovs Balls (besides 1903)

[Annette]

Hi

I remember seeing the fan that Lisa kindly reproduced at an exhibition of fans from the Hermitage at The Fan Museum in London in 1997/98.  It was entitled 'The Grand Dukes' Ball' and appears on page 62 of the catalogue.  The catalogue says the fan leaf is dated 1883 and is signed 'VOLO inv and pinkx' (no idea what that means!).  Vsevolozhsky was a former diplomat who caricatured friends and political figures.  There were three fans decorated by the gentleman in the exhibition and I remember they had amazing detail.

Kind regards

Annette

[hikaru]

Did somebody hear about black ball which took place 26th January 1889 in Anichkov Palace .
All participants should be in black robes.
This ball was in Austria-Hungarian style.- the music was only Hungarian.

[Baby_Tsarevich]

No I've never heard of that ball, it sounds interesting! Did Nicholas and Alexandra attend?

~Anastacia~

[hikaru]

I also have found that there was an Emerald Ball in Anichkov palace of 1888
Everybody was obliged to bear a lot of emeralds.

Both Balls were arranged by Maria Feodorvna, I suppose.

[erzsi]

In January 1889 was a black ball in St.Petersburg because crownprince Rudolph of Austria and Mary Vestera killed themselve in Mayerling and Maria Feodorowna says she want this ball and everyone must came in black.

[hikaru]

It is very intresting , because I have heard that it was like an ultimatum to the Austria after the death of Rudolyf , because of the relations between two countries became worser.
They danced valses and chardashes.
It is said that the black dresses , gloves and black fans made a good combination  with the diamonds and pearls.
K.R. wrote as follows: Ball at Anichkov was a strange one - with dames in black . On the black diamonds shined stronger. I did not understand , was it boaring or fun"

But your exlanation sound very reasonable.

[ZarevnaOlga]

Hello.
I heard, that this ball were planing for a long time and then there was the dead of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and for Maria Feodorovna it was impossibly to have no ball, so she send more cards with the asking the guests coming in black dresses (I´m so sorry for my terrible English!). Alix didnt come, because she was ill! But her Brother and father were there, they wrote about this boll in their diaries.

[sushismom]

From what I've read, the ball was in response to some similar thing the Austrians did (sorry, but I can't remember exactly what it was). Instead of canceling the ball, Marie decided to have everyone dress in black.

[don]

These balls were not commonplace events.  It was just that the Grand Duke Vladimir's idea for such a ball and its grand success among the courtiers inspired Nicholas II to request its repetition at the Hermitage at a later date.

[Sainte-Claire1875]

Forgive me for being a bit dim but was there a Ball (like the one in 1883, 1903...) for every emperor or what? It seems such a glamourous and high-class occassion... I can't begin to think how much those gowns weighed!
D

While they were not commonplace events like that, there was also another Russian costume ball in 1894 held on the 21 February (O.S.), shortly after Xenia Alexandrovna and Alexander Mikhailovich became engaged. But other than that one and the other two mentioned, I don't know of any others.

[grandduchess_42]

do you have any of Ella at the ball?

[Lisa]

Unfortunately Ella was not married yet...

[Lisa]

It tooks place at the palace of the count Sheremetiev

Nicholas was in old Russian costume (17th century)

Watercolour by Nicholas Beckendorff:




Xenia and Sandro:

And Constantin Constantinovitch as Cesar Borgia

I hope this helps to separate and compare the different costume balls!

[grandduchess_42]

Unfortunately Ella was not married yet...

yes i just realized when i looked at the date. sorry!

[Sainte-Claire1875]

Ooh, thanks for posting those, Lisa! I love that costume ball, and not many people even know about it, it seems! It was second to the one in 1903 on my list!