Jeffrey sent me a link to a fantastic site in which it is possible for a lover of beauty to become lost forever. It conta
ins many rare artifacts from the Russia of the Tsars, including some photographs of Nicholas and Alexandra. I read everything about the last Romanovs that I could get hold of when I was a student. Looking at the treasures reminded me of a trip I made to Hillwood with my friend Miss Sally and one of her daughters when in my twenties. In the 1920's, Marjorie Merriweather Post bought up as many valuables as the Communists were willing to sell, and they were willing to p
art with quite a bit, being bankrupt at the time. Marjorie beautifully arranged all her loot in her house outside of Washington, D.C. There are some Imperial eggs, of course, and dinner services that belonged to Catherine the Great, as well as many sacred vessels for the Divine Liturgy. It is open to the public and there is a wonderful tea room, at least there was when I visited.Here is also an article by author Penny Wilson about the last costume ball of the Tsar.
Excellent post. We often forget just how many Imperial Russian antiques are in the US. Armand Hammer bought them in enormous quantities, both for his own collection and for resale. Museums all over the country can be thankful for that.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jeffrey. I am glad that so much of the treasures were spared.
ReplyDeleteAnything made by the famed jeweler Carl Faberge is also prized. A few years ago there was an exhibition of Faberge objects in Delaware.
ReplyDeleteI've also read my share of books on the Romanovs! I own Robert K. Massie's biography on Nicholas and Alexandra and its companion book on the finding of the burial pit. I believe the Russian Orthodox Church canonized the entire family around the time of the reburial in Moscow.
There's a children's book on Anatasia; it's a delightful album of pictures and drawings about the family.
I was at that exhibition in Delaware, Elisa. It was fantastic!
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