Romanov Russia Jewellery

History is an important part of who and what we are in the present. As beautiful and innovative modern jewelry can be, antique and historical jewelry is unique and carries a lot of history behind, as you will see in the following pages. 

In this issue we continue with presenting a few absolutely gorgeous pieces of precious jewelry from the beginning of the 20th century.

The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the 1917 overthrow of the monarchy during the February Revolution.

The February Revolution of 1917 resulted in abdication of Nicholas II in favor of his brother Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovich. The latter declined to accept the crown, terminating the Romanov dynasty’s rule over Russia.

After the February Revolution, Nicholas II and his family were placed under house arrest in the Alexander Palace. Several members of the Imperial Family, including Grand Duke Cyril Vladimirovich of Russia, managed to establish good relations with the interim government and eventually fled the country during the October Revolution.

On July 17, 1918, Bolshevik authorities acting on Yakov Sverdlov’s orders in Moscow and led locally by Filip Goloschekin and Yakov Yurovsky, shot Nicholas II, his immediate family, and four servants in the cellar of the Ipatiev House in Yekaterinburg, Russia.

The family was told that they were to be photographed to prove to the people that they were still alive. 

The family members were arranged appropriately and left alone for several minutes, the gunmen then walked in and started shooting.

There have been many theories regarding the possible survival of members of Nicholas II’s family. However, recent research shows that all of the Romanovs, including Tsarevich Alexei and Grand Duchess Anastasia who had been thought to have escaped the Bolshevik attack, were killed.

On August 28, 2009, a Swedish public news outlet reported that Romanov family jewelry, found in 2008 in the archives of the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, was returned. The jewelry was allegedly turned over to the Swedish embassy in St. Petersburg in November 1918 by Duchess Marie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin to keep it safe. The jewelry’s worth was estimated to 20 million SEK (about 2.6 million US dollars).

A very large Art Nouveau Russian rose gold, pale green demantoid garnet and synthetic ruby brooch / pendant.  Made in Moscow between 1908 and 1917.

Right: Art Nouveau pendant, handcrafted in 14K yellow gold and set with 14 Russian Uralian green demantoids, 6 blue sapphires, 4 opals, 44 rose-cut diamonds, and 5 diamonds in various cuts. The frame and loop are marked with later Russian (St Petersburg) control stamps from the 1930s for 583 gold standard.

Left: An Art Nouveau antique Russian rose gold and demantoid garnet floral pendant. Made in Moscow between 1908 and 1917. Marked with 56 zolotnik old Russian gold standard and maker’s initials.

An Elegant Vintage Russian Art Deco Aquamarine Pendant Necklace made in Moscow between 1908 and 1917. Aquamarines are set in silver over 56 zolotniks gold.

Left: Vintage Russian Imperial Era Openwork Diamond Pendant in Russian Revival Style of the 1910s (Neo-Russian Moderne). Moscow, circa 1915.

Right: An Impressive Antique Russian Siberian Amethyst and Demantoid Garnet Rose Gold Pendant Necklace made in Moscow between 1908 and 1917. Three deep velvet purple Siberian amethysts, sixteen Ural demantoids, 56 zolotniks rose and yellow gold.

A PETER CARL FABERGE Russian gold bangle bracelet influenced by French Louis XV style of the mid 18th century made in St. Petersburg between 1899 and 1903 by Faberge’s principal jeweler August Holmstrom. The central shaped plaque is applied with a diamond set flower, on a dark royal blue guilloche enamel background. The enamel plaque is flanked by diamond set gold nets.

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For Men: Antiques

History is an important part of who and what we are in the present. As beautiful and innovative modern jewelry can be, antique and historical jewelry is unique and carries a lot of history behind, as you will see in the following pages.

The House of Romanov was the second and last imperial dynasty to rule over Russia, reigning from 1613 until the 1917 overthrow of the monarchy during the February Revolution.

The reign of Nicholas II (1894-1917) is associated with the zenith of the Russian decorative arts. After the fall of the Empire, a huge number of objects in precious metals were melted down to produce the first Soviet coinage. The bullion used to strike tens of millions of silver and gold coins between 1921 and 1924 had its primary source in confiscated silver and gold. This explains the rarity of gold and silver wares of the period on the market today in general, and of larger and heavier pieces in particular.

An unknown number of fine objects from private collections ended up in state museums. Almost everything of value, ranging from jewelry to books, went to the state vaults. 

The 1917 Revolution and the Civil War almost completely eradicated those items which displayed Imperial insignia, ciphers, and portraits of members of the Imperial family. In 1920’s and early 1930’s, the state, desperate for cash, organized a number of auctions at which porcelain, glass, bronze, carpets, books, and furniture from the Imperial palaces were sold to general public. For this reason, some pieces which belonged to the Imperial family are still available today.

Since 1998, Romanov Russia Ltd sold thousands of high-end Russian Imperial antiques and Faberge objects to private collectors, investors, art funds, and museums (including the Metropolitan in NY).

An interesting antique Russian silver cigarette case with gold and enamel appliques from the World War I period.  The case belonged to American Red Cross surgeon General Dr. Philip Newton.

At the beginning of the war, General Newton was in charge of American Red Cross ambulance truck shipments from US to Russia. Around 1915, he entered the Russian military service in the rank of a General. Interestingly, Philip Newton was the youngest General of the Russian Imperial Army at that time. He was 27 or 28 years old. General Newton served as a commander of the motorized Red Cross American brigade under the patronage of Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna (daughter of tsar Nicholas II). He personally knew Grand Duchesses, Empress Alexandra Feodorovna and Gregory Rasputine. 

Philip Newton received several Imperial Russian military awards, including St Anna sword with inscription FOR BRAVERY, Order of St Anna 3rd class with swords, Order of St Vladimir 4th class with swords.

On January 22, 1915, Philip Newton married Russian Princes Helen Shahofkaya, who volunteered to serve as a nurse in a Kievian hospital, which was operated by the American Society.

 They left Russia in the late 1917.

It was popular in the early 20th century, to decorate cigarette cases with small emblems which were meaningful to their owners. Such emblems were custom made by jewelers. 

The lid is applied in the center with a gold and enamel seal of Georgetown University (Washington, D.C.) flanked by enameled gold Russian and American flags, a gold cipher of Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna  (T and H beneath Imperial crown), two gold and red guilloche enamel crosses with swords of the Orders of St Anna and St Vladimir, a gold symbol of medicine - caduceus, and a gold American eagle.

Antique Russian Imperial Era Double Cufflinks made in St Petersburg between 1908 and 1917

These superb quality antique cufflinks are handcrafted in 56 zolotniks (14K) rose gold, and embellished with blue translucent guilloche enamel. 

Each enameled disc is set with a brilliant diamond. 

A Pair of Antique Gold Mounted Carved Malachite Cufflinks made in Russia between 1908 and 1917: 

A finely modeled gold, silver, silver-gilt, and enamel pendant (jeton) in the form of a parade helmet of the Life Guard Horse Regiment of His Majesty (czar Nicholas II was Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment), circa 1900. 

Antique Russian Imperial Presentation Gold Pocket Watch by Pavel Bure (Paul Buhre), circa 1899.

A Highly Important World War I Russian Imperial presentation GUN METAL cigarette case by Carl Faberge.

The lid is applied with a round gunmetal medallion and a silver Cyrillic monogram.

Apparently, this is the only known Faberge GUN METAL case with inscription WAR 1914. 

A Unique Russian Imperial Award Men’s Ring by Faberge. Given by the Empress Maria Feodorovna (mother of Tsar Nicholas II) in 1915.

The ring is designed in Russian MODERN style of the 1910s with a medieval Byzantine double headed eagle.

After the fall of the Byzantine empire in the 15th century, Russia adopted the Byzantine double headed eagle as its state emblem. Over the following centuries, the state eagle was modified several times, but in the 1910s, the original Byzantine eagle was revived in decorative arts.

The ring was made in St. Petersburg by Faberge’s workmaster Vladimir Solovyov.

Text and photos: RomanovRussia.com