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Lot Essay
Isabella Harding was a Lady's maid to Lady Emily Kingscote throughout her service to Queen Alexandra as a Lady of the Bedchamber. This necklace was probably presented to Mrs Harding during a visit between members of the English Royal and Russian Imperial courts.
From 1890, the Imperial family ordered a variety of small items adorned with the Imperial double-headed eagle and set with modest precious and semi-precious stones to present as rewards for service to individuals from a variety of social milieus. Pendants, such as the present lot, were amongst the 'customary gifts' often presented on Imperial visits abroad (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System during the Reign of Nicolas II, 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 200).
The State Hermitage Museum Collection contains a very similar laurel-wreath and jewelled Imperial double-headed eagle presentation brooch with nearly identical diamond-set leaf and berry decoration. The Hermitage example is struck with the workmaster's mark of Alfred Thielemann, St Petersburg, 1908-1917 (The State Hermitage Museum, inv. no. BE 1391).
From 1890, the Imperial family ordered a variety of small items adorned with the Imperial double-headed eagle and set with modest precious and semi-precious stones to present as rewards for service to individuals from a variety of social milieus. Pendants, such as the present lot, were amongst the 'customary gifts' often presented on Imperial visits abroad (U. Tillander-Godenhielm, The Russian Imperial Award System during the Reign of Nicolas II, 1894-1917, Helsinki, 2005, p. 200).
The State Hermitage Museum Collection contains a very similar laurel-wreath and jewelled Imperial double-headed eagle presentation brooch with nearly identical diamond-set leaf and berry decoration. The Hermitage example is struck with the workmaster's mark of Alfred Thielemann, St Petersburg, 1908-1917 (The State Hermitage Museum, inv. no. BE 1391).