Description:
Continental Gold-mounted Pendant, with a gold-mounted coquilla or rudraksha nut opening to a portrait on either side and inscription reading "From Australia July 1868 From Alfred," ht. 3/4 in.
Provenance: Possibly descended from Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia to her daughter, Princess Marie of Edinburgh, Queen of Romania to her daughter Princess Ileana of Romania through the royal family.
N.B. Locket appears to depict the Queen Marie and King Ferdinand I of Romania.
Marie was the eldest daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, the only daughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia and Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine. Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria, was enthusiastically received in Australia in 1867 as the first member of the British royal family to set foot in the country. He went back in 1868 shortly before meeting and later marrying Maria Alexandrovna. It is possible that Alfred gave the locket to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia upon his return from Australia in 1868 and that she in turn passed the locket on to her daughter Princess Marie.
Estimate $250-350
The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.
Keywords
Alexander II, Marie, Alfred, Maria Alexandrovna, Ileana, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna, Romania, AustraliaStuart Slavid
Senior Vice President
Director of Fine Ceramics
Director of Fine Silver
Director of European Furniture & Decorative Arts
508-970-3203
Emily Stegner
Specialist, European Furniture & Decorative Arts
508-970-3203
Stephanie Opolski
Appraiser
508-970-3000
European Furniture & Decorative Arts
The European Furniture & Decorative Arts department curates auctions of English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, and Russian antiques, furniture, and decorative arts.