Possessions Taken into Exile

[dp5486]

Besides the Imperial Family, does anyone know what possessions were taken by the different members of the Romanov family as they fled Russia? An example of this would be the Faberge St. George Egg taken on the Marlborough by the Dowager Empress.

Thanks!

[David_Pritchard]

I gather that Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich took at least a few trunks of accessories with him to exile including all of his decorations in gold, most importantly his collar of the Order of Saint Andrew. Those in Crimea of course had the most time to send their remaining personal property abroad while Grand Duke Kyril and family could hardly take anything with them to Finland at all. Princess Paley and her daughters left with very little and I believe that Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna and her husband Prince Putatin barely left with more than a change of clothing and some lose stones.

David

[dp5486]

That is what I find so interesting. Most of the Romanovs did not have time to take everything that they obviously wanted to but it lets you see what was really important to them.

Does anyone know which portrait of Alexander III was rescued by Felix Yusupov and taken with the Dowager Empress as she escaped? I am also curious to know which two Rembrandts were rescued by Felix Yusupov and taken with him on the Marlborough.

Thanks again!

P.S. I did read an article on the net about how Princess Paley sued to try and retrieve her property after it had been sold by the Soviet government.

[Forum Admin]

The two Rembrandt paintings were acquired by the Yussupov family in about 1800. Felix took them out of their frames and carried them out of Russia during the Revolution.  He later sold them in 1921. They are both now in the National Gallery in Washington DC.

"Portrait of a Gentleman in a Tall Hat with Gloves"
http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pimage?1209+0+0

"Portrait of a Lady with an Ostrich Feather Fan"
http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pimage?1210+0+0

[David_Pritchard]

The two Rembrandt paintings were acquired by the Yussupov family in about 1800. Felix took them out of their frames and carried them out of Russia during the Revolution.  He later sold them in 1921. They are both now in the National Gallery in Washington DC.

"Portrait of a Gentleman in a Tall Hat with Gloves"
http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pimage?1209+0+0

"Portrait of a Lady with an Ostrich Feather Fan"
http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pimage?1210+0+0

Do you know if Prince Yussopov cut them out of their frames, thus loosing the selvage of the canvas or if he had the time to properly remove the paintings from their strechers?

David

[Forum Admin]

They were cut from their frames.

[AkshayChavan]

From "lost fortune of the tsars" i know that the romanov who escaped with most posessions was nikolsha. Due to his fine organising capabilities, he was able to take all his gold, silver and jewels with him including the diamond studded sword of Field Marshal. I read that he had more than 200 boxes on board the ship.

[dp5486]

Wow! So he was the one that crowded up the Marlborough and I guess later on the Lord Nelson. Did Stana have amazing jewelry like many of the other Romanov women?

Does anyone have a picture of the Field Marshal's sword? Is it the sword, I think, with the uniform that Nikolosha wore on the deck of the Marlborough?

[Forum Admin]

Not quite. PLEASE go read the first hand account again here:
http://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/marlborough.html

[dp5486]

I will. Thanks for the tip.

AkshayChavan, do you recommend "Lost Fortunes of the Tsars"? I was thinking of buing a copy. How much does it discuss about the Marlborough?

Thanks!

[lancashireladandre]

From "lost fortune of the tsars" i know that the romanov who escaped with most posessions was nikolsha. Due to his fine organising capabilities, he was able to take all his gold, silver and jewels with him including the diamond studded sword of Field Marshal. I read that he had more than 200 boxes on board the ship.

Nikolosha and his brother did not save all their treasures. Much jewelry was left in the Credit Lyonnais bank in Petrograd. The plate salvaged was the "Crimean house" set. Nikolosha did however save some gems.Two large diamonds at least were sold in the USA with the help of  a Chicago based politican friend.

[lancashireladandre]

The Youssoupoff jewelry is much discussed on the threads of that name.Grand Duchess Xenia's jewelry and possessions saved (or indeed the boxes left on the shore) are mentioned on various threads.The fate of her gold service is not known except that Clarke mentioned it was still hers in 1948.The Dowager Empresses gems too are well documented.In her old age in Canada her daughter GD Olga Alexandrovna owned a large portrait of her father AND a carpet which originally a gift from an Emir (of Bokhara?)  had been salvaged by her mother. In May 1993 while in New York city I saw a  picnic basket with silver fittings in Asprey on Fifth Avenue.It had the Dowagers provenance and an equally dazzling price......

[AkshayChavan]

I will. Thanks for the tip.

AkshayChavan, do you recommend "Lost Fortunes of the Tsars"? I was thinking of buing a copy. How much does it discuss about the Marlborough?

Thanks!

Yes , I do recommend the book if you are obsessed with tsarist wealth and treasure like me. It answers a lot of questions as to what happened with tsar's wealth. and that "actually" romanovs were not as wealthy as we think.

[grandduchessella]

LFOTT is a great book. It's been referrenced on many threads--including Windsor Jewels--to help clarify the fate of much of the jewelry, including dispelling the common rumors which constantly pop up.

As for non-jewelry items, I do wonder what all was taken. Miechen made out pretty well due to Bertie Stoppard (sp?) who smuggled out, at great personal risk to himself to say the least, some very nice pieces which she split up later between her 4 children--rubies, pearls, diamonds and emeralds or sapphires.

Xenia left with some really fabulous pearls which she was defrauded on in France and later sued over.

I don't think Mavra left with very much at all, much like Maria Pavlovna Jr. I think she (MP) referrences some small items in her biographies but certainly nothing much--more sentimental than anything.

[Jackswife]

 Miechen's tiara is now one of QE II's, and judging from the number of photos i've seen of her wearing it, it seems to be one of HM's favorites. Some of Minnie's (Marie Feodorovna) jewels were sold after her death so I'm assuming she was able to take several items with her back to Denmark after the Revolution.