Mardi 8 Décembre, 19h
An exceptional Imperial Russian gold, enamel and diamond presentation box by Fabergé,workmaster Michael Perchin, Saint Petersburg, 1897, the openwork cover chasedwith two Romanov griffins over a red enamel ground, centred with a crowned, diamondcypher of Tsar Nicholas II on a white sun burst enamel diamond set oval, sixfurther diamonds set in the shields and at each corner between a husk and beadborder, 6.4x10.6x2.8 cm, 293g gros weight
Provenance: Presented by TsarNicholas II to Lieutenant-General Theodor Feldmann, Head of the ImperialAlexander Lyceum, 3 December 1897
Returned to the Imperial Cabinetby Lieutenant-General Feldmann, 16 December 1897
Presented by Tsar Nicholas II to Baron Maximilianvon Lyncker, Marshall of the Household of the German Emperor, 15 November 1899
Discovered in the private safe of François Dupré uponhis death in 1966
Thence by descent
Under the reignof Tsar Nicholas II, this magnificent box was purchased by the Imperial Cabinetfrom Fabergé to be used as a presentation box. As it was to be offered by theTsar in recognition of service or as a gift, the standard ‘scratch’ numbersfrom Fabergé’s inventories were not applied. This box therefore was not soldthrough Fabergé’s shop so does not bear an invoice scratch number. Instead it waslogged in the meticulous ledgers which the Imperial Cabinet kept, attributed anumber and recorded along with information on the recipient.
According to thelatest research by Dr Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm (1), between 1896 and the end ofworkmaster Michael Perchin’s tenure in 1903, only two Fabergé boxes withNicholas II cypher are recorded with red enamel. On 25th April 1897,this red enamel box with “brilliants and rose” diamonds entered the ledger,numbered 49 at a cost of 1760 roubles. The size of the diamonds accounted forthe considerably higher price compared to the other boxes purchased at half thecost.
Later that yearon 3rd December, the box was presented to Lieutenant-General Theodor (Fedor Alexandrovich)Feldmann (1835-1902). As head of the Imperial Alexander Lyceum - theeducational institution founded by Tsar Alexander I – Feldmann was charged withensuring students received an education that prepared them for positions inImperial service. Despite the prestige of being gifted such a box, it was alsoknown as a way of providing indirect wealth to its recipient. Instead ofcashing in one of the large diamonds, Feldmann returned the box in its entirety13 days later. It is entered in the Cabinet ledger under number 66 with thedescription ‘red enamel brilliants’.
The box leavesthe Imperial Cabinet ledger for a final time on 15 November 1899 when it ispresented to Baron Maximilian Freiherr von Lyncker (1845-1923), Hofmarschall (House and Court Marshallof noble rank) for Kaiser Wilhelm II. A man portrayed in literary accounts as arather toxic and forceful character, he reputedly exerted a certain influenceover the Kaiser. Following the meeting on 8 November 1899 between the Germanand Russian Emperors at Potsdam near Berlin where Lyncker was present, TsarNicholas sent gifts to consolidate the eased relationship. As was usual, the Hofmarschall was also honoured for hisposition and role in the proceedings. The box left Russia for Germany and thevon Lyncker family.
Nothing is knownabout the journey of the box during the war years until it is discovered in thesafe of the Dupré family in 1966. FrançoisLouis Jules Dupré (1888-1966) was the grandson of Barbizon School painter,Jules Dupré. As an hotelier, he owned the George V hotel in Paris and was a successfulbusiness man. He collected art and bred racehorses, owning the stud Harasd’Ouilly which he bought in 1930. Upon his death, his wife Anna Stefanna Nagy Dupré cherishedthe box until her death in 1977. With no children, the box was received by hersister and in turn, in 2002, was inherited by the present owner.
Note (1): Dr.Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm – internationally renowned specialist and acclaimedauthor of “The Russian Imperial AwardSystem, 1894-1917» ed. The Finnish Antiquarian Society, Helsinky, 2005
Description
An exceptional Imperial Russian gold, enamel and diamond presentation box by Fabergé,workmaster Michael Perchin, Saint Petersburg, 1897, the openwork cover chasedwith two Romanov griffins over a red enamel ground, centred with a crowned, diamondcypher of Tsar Nicholas II on a white sun burst enamel diamond set oval, sixfurther diamonds set in the shields and at each corner between a husk and beadborder, 6.4x10.6x2.8 cm, 293g gros weight
Provenance: Presented by TsarNicholas II to Lieutenant-General Theodor Feldmann, Head of the ImperialAlexander Lyceum, 3 December 1897
Returned to the Imperial Cabinetby Lieutenant-General Feldmann, 16 December 1897
Presented by Tsar Nicholas II to Baron Maximilianvon Lyncker, Marshall of the Household of the German Emperor, 15 November 1899
Discovered in the private safe of François Dupré uponhis death in 1966
Thence by descent
Under the reignof Tsar Nicholas II, this magnificent box was purchased by the Imperial Cabinetfrom Fabergé to be used as a presentation box. As it was to be offered by theTsar in recognition of service or as a gift, the standard ‘scratch’ numbersfrom Fabergé’s inventories were not applied. This box therefore was not soldthrough Fabergé’s shop so does not bear an invoice scratch number. Instead it waslogged in the meticulous ledgers which the Imperial Cabinet kept, attributed anumber and recorded along with information on the recipient.
According to thelatest research by Dr Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm (1), between 1896 and the end ofworkmaster Michael Perchin’s tenure in 1903, only two Fabergé boxes withNicholas II cypher are recorded with red enamel. On 25th April 1897,this red enamel box with “brilliants and rose” diamonds entered the ledger,numbered 49 at a cost of 1760 roubles. The size of the diamonds accounted forthe considerably higher price compared to the other boxes purchased at half thecost.
Later that yearon 3rd December, the box was presented to Lieutenant-General Theodor (Fedor Alexandrovich)Feldmann (1835-1902). As head of the Imperial Alexander Lyceum - theeducational institution founded by Tsar Alexander I – Feldmann was charged withensuring students received an education that prepared them for positions inImperial service. Despite the prestige of being gifted such a box, it was alsoknown as a way of providing indirect wealth to its recipient. Instead ofcashing in one of the large diamonds, Feldmann returned the box in its entirety13 days later. It is entered in the Cabinet ledger under number 66 with thedescription ‘red enamel brilliants’.
The box leavesthe Imperial Cabinet ledger for a final time on 15 November 1899 when it ispresented to Baron Maximilian Freiherr von Lyncker (1845-1923), Hofmarschall (House and Court Marshallof noble rank) for Kaiser Wilhelm II. A man portrayed in literary accounts as arather toxic and forceful character, he reputedly exerted a certain influenceover the Kaiser. Following the meeting on 8 November 1899 between the Germanand Russian Emperors at Potsdam near Berlin where Lyncker was present, TsarNicholas sent gifts to consolidate the eased relationship. As was usual, the Hofmarschall was also honoured for hisposition and role in the proceedings. The box left Russia for Germany and thevon Lyncker family.
Nothing is knownabout the journey of the box during the war years until it is discovered in thesafe of the Dupré family in 1966. FrançoisLouis Jules Dupré (1888-1966) was the grandson of Barbizon School painter,Jules Dupré. As an hotelier, he owned the George V hotel in Paris and was a successfulbusiness man. He collected art and bred racehorses, owning the stud Harasd’Ouilly which he bought in 1930. Upon his death, his wife Anna Stefanna Nagy Dupré cherishedthe box until her death in 1977. With no children, the box was received by hersister and in turn, in 2002, was inherited by the present owner.
Note (1): Dr.Ulla Tillander-Godenhielm – internationally renowned specialist and acclaimedauthor of “The Russian Imperial AwardSystem, 1894-1917» ed. The Finnish Antiquarian Society, Helsinky, 2005