Fabergé, workmaster Hjalmar Armfeldt, 1842-1917

with an original photograph by Boissonas et Eggler, St Petersburg, of Emperor Nicholas I in the uniform of a Field Marshal of the British army, the mount signed Nicholas and dated 1916, 88 standard

By repute, this frame was sent to Rear-Admiral Nicholas Wolkoff, the Imperial Russian naval Attaché in London, as a present for Lord Balfour, First Lord of the Admiralty from 1915-1916, but never delivered.

Despite virtually unanimous opposition, on the 5^th September 1915 Emperor Nicholas II replaced his uncle, Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaevich, as Commander-in-Chief of all land and sea forces. In December 1915, as a diplomatic gesture to affirm the alliance between Britain and Russia, King Edward VII appointed Nicholas a field marshal of the British army, the uniform of which is worn in this photograph. Nicholas wrote of: “the great honour bestowed upon me by His Majesty the King. I deeply appreciate the high appointment to be a field marshal & send my innermost wishes to our British comrades for glorious success in the coming year.”

As portrayed in this photograph, the Emperor returns the compliment through the orders and medals he wears: the star of the Order of the Garter, awarded him in 1893, the Royal Victorian Chain, awarded in 1904, as well as the Russian ‘kolodka’ which consisted of the Order of St Vladimir, 4^th class, the coronation and death medals of Alexander III, the Danish Order of Dannebury and the Greek Order of the Redeemer.

Arthur James Balfour, the first Earl of Balfour, was appointed First Lord of the Admiralty on the 25^th May 1915 and served as Foreign Secretary under David Lloyd-George from September 1916. It may well be that by the time this frame reached Rear-Admiral Wolkoff in London from Russia, Lord Balfour had taken up post as Foreign Secretary and deemed such a gift inappropriate given his political position.

The austere decoration of this frame consciously reflects the straightened circumstances of Russia during the war without sacrificing the craftsmanship and attention to detail for which Fabergé was renowned. Throughout the 1910s, the Imperial family were regular patrons of Boissonas et Eggler, a well-reputed photographic studio in St Petersburg.

The silver mounts in excellent condition but could benefit from a professional clean. The wood elements showing signs of age: the surface with scratches through the varnish, particularly to the area immediately around the aperture, as visible in the printed catalogue illustration; this is presumably the result of overcleaning of the mounts. Additional lighter wear and surface abrasions throughout. The wood back with a vertical split approximately 2mm wide running from top to bottom. The back screws have been out and are possibly replaced. The photograph mount with damp staining to the lower edge and upper left corner. The object gives an overall impressive appearance, which could be improved with some professional attention. We recommend that clients interested in bidding should view the object in person before the sale.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."