The Lost Treasures of the Grand Duchess Vladimir, Part I

The big news story from a couple of years back was when the lost treasures of the Grand Duchess Vladimir, Maria Pavlovna the Older, and her husband, His Imperial Highness Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich, the son of Tsar Alexander II and brother of Alexander III, were found in Stockholm. The Duchess had sent them to Sweden during the revolution, to protect some of her and her husband's assets, but after she died in 1920, the treasures seemed to have been forgotten. Several pillowcases with the Grand Duchess's handwriting were found, and inside of each was a treasure trove of cigarette cases, cufflinks, Faberge baubles and more. They were discovered in 2009 in a safe at the Swedish legation. They had been sent to Sweden in November 1918, the month Sweden broke diplomatic ties with the revolutionary government. They were auctioned off in 2009 by Sotheby's auction house. The money from the sale went to restoring the Grand Duchess's childhood home in Russia, and on a memorial for the Duchess.

These are just some of the treasures that I found most beautiful; I will post some more in subsequent posts. You can also view the auction results here.

A Faberge enamelled gold cigarette case, by workmaster Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, circa 1890.

A Faberge gold cigarette case, by workmaster Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, Circa 1890.

A Faberge Imperial enamel cigarette case with jewelry two-colored gold mounts, by workmaster Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, 1899.

A Faberge silver cigarette case, Moscow, 1899-1908.

A Faberge nephrite cigarette case with jeweled two-color gold mounts, by workmaster Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, circa 1890.

A Faberge silver cigarette case, by workmaster Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, 1899-1903.

A Faberge wood cigarette case with silver-gilt mounts, by workmaster Michael Perchin, St. Petersburg, circa 1895.

A gold cigarette case by Samuel Arnd, St. Petersburg, 1876.

A jeweled silver and enamel cigarette case by Bolin, Moscow, 1899-1908.

A Bolin jeweled silver and enamel cigarette case, by workmaster Konstantin Linke, Moscow, 1899-1908.

A pair of gold cufflinks by Anton Michelson, Copenhagen, 1871.

A pair of jewelled gold cufflinks, circa 1880.

A pair of jeweled gold cufflinks, by Eduard Schramm, St. Petersburg, Late 19th century.

A pair of jeweled and enameled gold cufflink, by F.I.A. Freres, Paris, circa 1890.