An important silver presentation Kovsh by Vladimir Morozov, Imperial warrant, St Petersburg, early 20th century, decorated with a floral and foliate border with cabochon stones, the handle in the form of the imperial bicephal eagle, kokoshnik 84 hallmark, 1908-1917, length 30.5 cm, weight 2520g Provenance: Martime Alps Prefect Andre de Joly, (1857-1934) thence by descent. 

André de Joly (Paris 1857 - Anvers 1934) held the position of Prefect of the Martime Alps in Nice from 1904 to 1917. During his tenure, he lived through the highs of entertaining the European Royalty and Nobles who spent their winters on the Côte d’Azur to the more troubling times of the Great War.

Bythe age of 30 he is awarded the Cross of a Knight of the Legion of Honour andhis commitment to his country and serving the French people sees him promotedto Prefect in 1893. His success in this role earns him the Officer’s cross afterhis diplomacy helps extinguish the social unrest of Sâone and Loire in 1899. Heinitiates many restoration projects for churches, museums and castles for whathe considers to be French heritage in the Maine and Loire region. One of hisgreatest achievements is the construction of the Moyenne Corniche from Nice toMonaco during his service as Prefect of the Maritime Alps.

Inhis personal journal detailing his career he states "I have strongly feltthe passion that has always been present over the years for this profession ofPrefect, which allows so many initiatives, the most beautiful of all when youjealously guard, as I have been able to do, your freedom to act". He isawarded the Gold Medal for Mutuality and the Medal of Honour for Epidemics and iselevated to the grade of Commander in the Legion of Honour in 1910. In thecourse of his career, he is decorated 30 times, earning himself honours fromthe Crowns of Russia, Great Britain, Austria, Sweden, Germany, Serbia andMonaco (sold at Christie’s King Street, London, Orders, Decorations and Campaign medals, 22 July 1986).

Hisinteraction with the Russian Imperial family is partly due to his role asPrefect but also thanks to his wife’s generous hospitality on the social sceneof the Côte d’Azur. His position is more of that of an Ambassador, consideringthe circles in which he moves, as well as being charged with representing thedepartment for Foreign Affairs. On one occasion, when Grand-Duchess AnastasiaMikhailovna’s daughter, Cécile, marries the German Crown Prince Wilhelm, deJoly quashes the discovery of compromising letters.

Withsuch a strong presence of Russian nobility in the area by the end of the 19^thcentury, plans for a new church are afoot. Empress Maria Feodorovna, widow ofTsar Alexander III, is presented with the idea during a stay on the coast.Enamoured with the idea of a new Russian church, she offers patronage and ensuresthe financial assistance of Tsar Nicolas II and has the plans expanded at theImperial Academy of Arts in St Petersburg. After almost 16 years in the making, the Saint Nicholas OrthodoxCathedral is inaugurated on 17^th December 1912. Prefect André deJoly is one of the honoured guests at the exceptional ceremony.

Thefollowing year sees the marriage of André de Joly’s only daughter. The wedding iscelebrated by a number of events organised for selected guests. On Sunday 13February 1913, a musical matinée is held at the prefecture, one of the guestsnotably His Excellence Baron Adolf Andreas Woldemar Freefericksz, Minister ofthe Russian Court.  Next day, lunch ishosted at the prefecture for Grand Duke and Grand DuchessMecklembourg-Schwerin, a.k.a. Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna and herbrother Grand Duke Michael Mikhailovich of Russia with his wife Countess Torby.According to family tradition, this silver presentation kovsh, lot 324, is givenas a wedding gift from the Imperial Russian family.

Literature:

-AnneLovreglio, Newspaper Nice-Matin,edition 22nd July 1986

-salecatalogue Christie’s King Street, London, Orders,Decorations and Campaign medals, 22 July 1986

-National Archives, Nice, “Département des AlpesMaritimes, Rapport du Préfet, Conseil Général, 1^er session du1911 »

-Private journal retained by the family :« André de Joly 1856-1923, Quelquesrenseignements sur ma carrière, 1877-1917”

-Russian Orthodox Church, site of the Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Nice sabor.fr, 2015-2019