Similar pair of vases in the Hillwood Museum Collection in Washington (inventory no. 23.128.1, 63 cm., dated 1911). These were designed by Petr Ivanovich Krasnovskii and carved by Grigori Omrokov.

The decoration of the vase is clearly historical inspired by Russian motifs of the 17th century, which was very popular in Russia in the late 19th century and early 20th century. This includes the floral decoration itself but also the symbols as the old form of the Russian coat of arms as well as the old tsar crown, “The Crown of Monomakh”. This is the oldest crown amongst the Russian regalia, and it was used at coronation ceremonies of the Russian tsars until the late 17th century. According to a Russian legend it was brought to Russia as a gift from the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomachos, hence the name, and it originated from the 13th-14th century. Thus, the first ruler of the Romanov-family, Tsar Mikhail I of Russia, who was crowned in 1613, was also portrayed with “the Crown of Monomakh”. All in all, the symbolics of the vase also point towards the Romanov Tercentenary in 1913, celebrated by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia.

Provenance: The Dane Alfred Schønebeck (b. Varde 1885, d. Copenhagen 1931) was employed at the Great Northern Telegraph Company in 1903. Thus, Alfred Schønebeck was stationed as a telegraphist from 1904 in Libau in Latvia, later in Kiachta in Siberia north of the Mongolian border and finally in Irkutsk near the Baikal Lake. From 1914 he was stationed in Gothenburg, Sweden, the same year he was married to the Swedish­born Gerda Schønebeck, née Rydemann (b. Tannåker 1886, d. Copenhagen 1980). In 1918, Alfred Schønebeck was promoted to office assistant at the head office in Copenhagen and in 1920 to senior clerk. In 1921 he became the company's new representative in Russia and moved to St. Petersburg. In 1923, the representation was moved to Moscow, which was not completely unknown to him, when he - while living in St. Petersburg - had already made several business trip to Moscow. The Great Northern Telegraph Company was the first foreign company with a representation in Moscow. His wife arrived in Moscow shortly after, where she now lived with her husband. He still visited St. Petersburg now and then on business trips, accompanied by his wife. He worked hard to maintain the position of the Great Northern Telegraph Company in Russia. While living in Russia, Alfred Schønebeck, but in particular his wife, went extensively to flea markets and auctions in Moscow and St. Petersburg, where they acquired Russian art and antiques. In 1929 Alfred Schønebeck was promoted to office manager at the head office in Copenhagen, and the couple moved to Denmark, bringing their Russian art and antiques with them. Alfred Schønebeck died already in 1931, while Gerda Schønebeck died almost 50 years later, 96 years old. She enjoyed telling her children and grandchildren about her life in Russia and the art and antiques she and her husband had acquired, among others in Tsarskoye Selo, St. Petersburg or in Moscow. A part of their Russian collection is now offered at our Russian sale by their granddaughter.

Se also e.g. lot no. 2028.