Imperial - Three Alexander II / III Russian 84 Zolotnik items of flatware, Saint Petersburg circa 1890 retailed by Emil-Friedrich Yegorovich Henricsen (active circa 1870-90)

Of fiddle and thread pattern, double struck. Comprising two sauce ladles and a serving spoon, each engraved with the imperial crown above a monogram MA. Marked to the side of the bowls with the maker’s mark AЛ (untraced), dvonik town standard mark and . (3)

Longest – 22.1 cm / 8.8 inches

Weight – 307 grams / 9.87 ozt

The initials are for Maria Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess of Russia, Duchess of Edinburgh and Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1853-1920). The fifth child and only surviving daughter of Emperor Alexander II of Russia and his first wife Princess Marie of Hesse and by Rhine. She was the younger sister of Alexander III of Russia and the paternal aunt of Russia's last emperor, Nicholas II. In 1874, Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna married Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second son of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; she was the first and only Romanov to marry into the British royal family. She became Duchess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in August 1893. After World War I, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, the duchy her husband and nephew had ruled, ceased to exist in November 1918. Maria Alexandrovna died in 1920 in exile in Switzerland living under reduced circumstances.

Makers: Ivanov 980. Made tableware and unornamented articles for the Imperial Court. About 1890 he sold his workshop to A. Liubavian. The firm made the dressing table set of Grand Duchess Ksenia Alexandrovna (1875-1960) aunt to the above, Sotheby’s New York, 14 October 2015, Lot 53 ($6,250 incl. premium)

A double salt from this service was sold these rooms, 26 June 2019, lot 355 (£225 incl. prem)