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A Royal 18k gold mourning medallion for Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich of Russia (1843–1865), worn by Queen Louise of Denmark (1817–1898), of oval openly form, left interior part scratched “Nixa 24 April 1865”, right interior ornament with a lock of his hair behind glass. France, early 1860s. H. incl. suspension loop 3.5 cm.

Provenance: Queen Louise of Denmark (1817–1898), married 1842 to King Christian IX (1818–1906) of Denmark, ruler from 1863. The couple was called “The In-Laws of Europe” with many family members spread across this continent. Later H.R.H. Prince Henrik of Denmark (1934–2018), who gave it to the Danish jeweler John Rørvig. His heir sold it to Nyfortuna as the present owner.

King Christian IX and Queen Louise of Denmark's second daughter, Princess Dagmar (1847–1928) was engaged in 1864 to Grand Duke Nicholas Alexandrovich of Russia, called Nixa. The year after, in 1865, he was visiting Europe but his constitution was getting bad and to get better he travelled to Southern France. However, the Grand Duke grew gravely ill with cerebrospinal meningitis in Nice, and Princess Dagmar travelled as fast as possible to visit him. He died in the presence of Dagmar on 24 April 1865 in the Imperial Russian Villa Bermond in Nice. It was said that shortly before his death, Grand Duke Nicholas blessed Princess Dagmar and his younger brother, Grand Duke Alexander (III) Alexandrovich of Russia, as a future married couple. Princess Dagmar and the Danish Royal family were inconsolable. Her mother, Queen Louise, followed the tradition wearing a mourning medallion for Nixa with a lock of his hair. The medallion is also scratched with his name and date of death, presumbaly by Prinsess Dagmar. When the medallion is French, it is possible that it was bought, scratched and mounted with the hair in the Imperial villa in Nice, shortly after the death. Princess Dagmar was mourning for a year and on 17 June 1866 she was engaged to Nixa's brother, Grand Duke Alexander (III) of Russia. They were married on 9 November 1866 in St. Petersburg.

Additional Remarks

Payment is possible only by credit card in the salesroom or by bank transfer.

Auction

Jewellery and handbags, 1 December 2022

Category
Estimate

10,000–12,000 DKK

Sold

Price realised

22,000 DKK