Queen Alexandrine’s Sapphire Tiara

The story about “The Russian Sapphire Tiara” begins all the way back in the spring of 1898, where Princess Alexandrine of Mecklenburg-Schwerin married the Danish Prince Christian in Cannes. In 1912, they were proclaimed Queen Alexandrine and King Christian X of Denmark. At their wedding in 1898, one of their many presents was “The Russian Sapphire Tiara” (originally a so-called combination piece), which is now up for auction. It was given to the future Queen of Denmark by Tsar Nikolai II and Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia. The tiara was originally a so-called combination piece, where the different parts could be used individually. In 1933, the Danish royal couple passed on the jewellery to their daughter-in-law Hereditary Princess Caroline-Mathilde at her wedding to their youngest son Hereditary Prince Knud at the Fredensborg Palace Chapel. After the Hereditary Princess' death in 1995, the tiara was given to her son Count Christian of Rosenborg and his family, where it has been until today.

Documenting the History of a Cultural Treasure 

Bruun Rasmussen's chief specialist in Russian art, Martin Hans Borg, has long been aware of the tiara’s existence and was therefore excited about the news that the three Countesses of Rosenborg, Josephine, Camilla and Feodora of Rosenborg, had decided to put the tiara up for auction. The work of documenting the jewellery's provenance led Martin Hans Borg on an interesting journey through the history of the Danish Royal House. The wedding of Prince Christian and Princess Alexandrine in Cannes was a subject of great interest to the Danish newspapers at the time. In the morning edition of the newspaper Berlingske Tidende on 27 April 1898, Borg found a list of the couple’s gifts, which confirms that the jewellery was the wedding gift from Tsar Nikolai II and Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna of Russia. Another piece of the puzzle was found at the Rossiyski Gosudarstvenniy Istoricheskiy Arhiv (RGIA, the Russian State Historic Archive) in the form of a bill that includes a similar description of a sapphire jewellery. Martin Hans Borg has also succeeded in uncovering old photographs of the members of the Danish royal family wearing the offered piece of jewellery in different combinations. One thing is certain – the jewellery’s journey alongside the members of the Danish royal family has been a long one, and a provenance does not get better than this.

During the preview on Thursday 22 November at 4 pm, Martin Hans Borg will give a presentation entitled "Queen Alexandrine's Russian Sapphire Tiara – The Story of a Unique Wedding Gift from Tsar Nikolai II of Russia". The presentation will be held in Danish, but everyone is welcome!

Princess Elisabeth’s Collection

At the anniversary auction, we continue the journey through the history of the Danish royal family with several Russian objets d’art from Princess Elisabeth of Denmark, who was the eldest child of Hereditary Prince Knud and Hereditary Princess Caroline-Mathilde as well as the first grandchild of King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine. One item that deserves to be highlighted from her collection is a golden double bell push with elephants and various precious stones made by workmaster Henrik Wigström for Fabergé. Read more about Princess Elisabeth and view all the lots from her collection. After the Live Auction on Friday 30 November, we will hold an online theme auction with more than 250 items from Princess Elisabeth's home.

Paintings from Russia

Russia's rich painting tradition is represented at the auction with two major works by the artist Philip Andreievich Maliavine, who was a student of the famous realist painter Ilya Repin. Maliavine's poor, rural upbringing cannot be overlooked when considering his favourite motifs, where the daily life of the Russian peasantry is the primary focal point, which can also be seen in the works at this auction. In one oil painting, peasants play music for a couple of dancing girls in characteristically colourful dresses. In the second painting, you see a Russian woman ploughing the soil with a horse-drawn plough. Maliavine often exhibited abroad and also had strong connections to Denmark, where he exhibited several times during the 1930s, including once at Hotel D’Angleterre. Both paintings come from private Danish art collections.

The anniversary auction also includes many wonderful Russian enamels, jewellery, porcelain, collectables and icons.

Auction: Friday 30 November at 2 pm at Bredgade 33, Copenhagen

Preview in Copenhagen and London: read more here

View all the Russian lots at the anniversary auction on 30 November
Please note: There are restrictions on bidding on the Russian lots at the anniversary auction
Read more about the anniversary auction
View all the Russian lots at the online auction on 3 December