A Fabergé jewelled gold and enamel miniature frame, workmaster Victor Aarne, St Petersburg, 1899-1904

of shaped rectangular form with arched top, the oval aperture within a rose-cut diamond-set border on a ground of translucent yellow enamel over sunburst engine-turning, the corners set with larger diamonds hung with four-colour gold floral swags, ribbon tie surmount, toupee feet, the mother-of-pearl back with gilt-metal scroll strut, struck with workmaster's initials and Fabergé in Cyrillic, 56 standard, scratched inventory number 5973

Alexandra Pistohlkors (1888-1968)

Thence by descent

Alexandra Pistohlkors enjoyed close connections with the Imperial Court.  Her father, Alexander Taneyev, served as Chief Steward to His Majesty's Chancellery in addition to being a noted composer.  Her sister, Anna Vyrubova, was lady-in-waiting and close confidante of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna.  Alexandra's husband, Alexander Erikovich Pistohlkors, was the stepson of Grand Duke Paul Alexandrovich.  Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna was godmother to the Pistohlkors' eldest daughter, Tatiana, born in 1910. 

Alexandra, knicknamed 'Sana', was among the cluster of society ladies who flocked admiringly around Grigori Rasputin.  She cabled him in 1913, "I am very sick. I implore you to help. Sana."  Alexandra's husband was among the few men who formed part of this group, the starets often visiting the couple at their home.  They fled to Finland with their three daughters in 1916, before Rasputin's murder at the end of that year.