MARK OF ALEXANDER TILLANDER, ST PETERSBURG, 1908-1917

Details

A JEWELLED GUILLOCHÉ ENAMEL AND GOLD-MOUNTED SILVER IMPERIAL PRESENTATION BROOCH
MARK OF ALEXANDER TILLANDER, ST PETERSBURG, 1908-1917
Of lozenge shape, centring rose-cut diamond-set initials 'MA' for Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, enamelled in translucent blue over a sunburst guilloché ground, surmounted by a diamond-set Imperial crown, marked on reverse, pin and loop; in the original silk and velvet-lined leather case stamped 'A. Tillander / St. Petersbourg', the cover also stamped with the gilt Imperial crown
1¼ in. (3.2 cm.) wide

Provenance

By repute, a gift from Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna (1853-1920), Duchess of Edinburgh and of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, to her maid.
With Max Howald, Bern.
Acquired from the above by the father of the present owner in 1995.

Literature

U. Tillander-Godenhielm, Smycken: Från Det Kejserliga S:t Petersburg, Helsinki, 1996, pp. 164-165, no. 172 (illustrated).
M. Saloniemi, U. Tillander-Godenhielm, T. Boettger, The Era of Fabergé, Tampere, 2006, p. 164, no. 70 (illustrated).
U. Tillander-Godenhielm, Jewels from Imperial St Petersburg, London, 2012, p. 263 (illustrated).

Exhibited

Helsinki, Smycken: Från Det Kejserliga S:t Petersburg, 1995, no. 172.
Stockholm, Christie’s, 1996.
Lahti, The Lahti Art Museum, Fabergé: Loistavaa kultasepäntaidetta, 14 March – 4 May 1997.
Tampere, Museums in Finland and Moscow Kremlin Museum, The Era of Fabergé, 17 June – 1 October 2006, no. 70.
Helsinki, Design museum, Festivities at Winter Palace, 2009.

Brought to you by

Alexis de Tiesenhausen

atiesenhausen@christies.com +44 (0)20 7389 2605

Lot Essay

Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna (1853-1920) was the only surviving daughter of Emperor Alexander II (1818-1881). She married Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh (1844-1900) in 1874. She was the first and only member of the Romanov family to marry into the British Royal family.

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