Live Auction 7819Property from the Collection of HRH The Prince George, Duke of Kent KG, KT, and HRH Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent CI, GCVO and their families
Lot 196

A RUSSIAN SILVER TRAY

MARK OF ADOLF SPER, ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1850

Closed20 November 2009

Price Realised

GBP 10,000

Considering selling a similar item?

Discover its value with a complimentary estimate from our specialists.

More Information

How to sell

A RUSSIAN SILVER TRAY
MARK OF ADOLF SPER, ST. PETERSBURG, CIRCA 1850
Shaped oblong with reed and foliage shell border, with two twisted reed and foliage handles, later engraved with initial 'E' below the Russian Imperial crown and 'H' below a crown, all above a Cyrillic inscription dated 1902, marked underneath and on handles
24¼ in. (62 cm.) wide
65 oz. (2,007 gr.)
The initials are for Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece (1882-1957), daughter of Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovitch of Russia (1847-1909) and mother of Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, as Grand Duchess Elena and Princess Helena of Greece.
The inscription translation of the inscription reads 'Mediterranean Fleet November 1902.

Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna, Princess Nicholas of Greece (1882-1957), presumably given to her by the Russian Mediterranean Fleet to commemoration of her arrival in Athens on 25 November 1902 having married Prince Nicolas of Greece at Tsarskoye Selo on 29 August Duchess of Kent.

Specialist note

Following their marriage Prince Nicolas of Greece and Grand Duchess Elena Vladimirovna travelled to Yalta on the Russian Imperial yacht Standart where they were received by the Tsar and the Tsarina. They later travelled to Athens on the Greek Royal Yacht Amphitrite arriving on 23 November to find the capital decked with the Russian and Greek colours in their honour. They attended a service of thanksgiving at the Cathedral having processed through streets lined with soldiers and the pupils of the military and civil schools.