A Fabergé silver-gilt punch service, Moscow, circa 1895

comprising a bowl, tray, twelve cups with glass liners and a ladle, repossé with friezes of flowering laurel on stippled grounds between bead borders, the bowl engraved with the arms of Helmuth von Moltke, struck K.Fabergé in Cyrillic beneath the Imperial Warrant, 84 standard, scratched inventory numbers 8798 and 9442, the ladle, possibly associated, dated 1895 and with scratched inventory number 6583, in original wood box

Presumably purchased by or given to Helmuth von Moltke during one of his visits to Russia, 1895-1897 

Purchased by the current owners at Asprey & Garrard, London

Excellent condition. The gilding very slightly worn in places, for example the gadrooning of the bowl, small patches of the tray and the handle of the ladle, consistent with age and handling. The box in very good condition, with two splits to the lid, likely spreading caused by desiccation of the wood, and refurbishing to the base where the bowl sits.
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Helmuth Johann Ludwig von Moltke (1848-1916), also known as Moltke the Younger to distinguish him from his uncle, Field Marshal Helmuth Karl Bernhard von Moltke, for whom he was named, was aide-de-camp to Kaiser Wilhelm II from 1891 and Chief of the German General Staff from 1906 to 1914, a position which, critics charged, he gained on the strength of his name and his friendship with the Kaiser.  He first visited Tsarskoye Selo on 30 September 1895, when he met the Kaiser's cousin, Emperor Nicholas II, who recorded the meeting in his diary: “I received the German Emperor’s aide-de-camp, Moltke.  He brought me a letter and an engraving from that bore, Herr Wilhelm” (A. Pierre, ed., Journal Intime de Nicholas II, Paris, 1925, p. 134).  He returned frequently to St Petersburg and Moscow in subsequent years and was present at the Coronation.  For Moltke's highly interesting diary entries detailing his meetings with the Emperor, Empress Alexandra, and other members of the Imperial Family, please visit sothebys.com.

Another Fabergé Moscow punch service, also dated 1895 and in an identical box, sold, Christie's New York, 24 April 2009, lot 192.  

Summary of selected dates from Helmuth von Moltke, Erinnerungen, Briefe, Dokumente, 1877-1916, Stuttgart, 1922:

17 Nov 1894

Arrival in Saint Petersburg; Moltke left for Russia after Emperor Alexander III passed away.

With embellished words Moltke describes his careful observations of his first impressions of this majestic place, of the Emperor’s sarcophagus, the incensed air of the opulent churches... (“And outside the sad sky cries over this city and cries all over Russia” [p. 178]).

23 November 1894

Moltke visited the Isaac Cathedral, by which he was so impressed that two pages are written on its interior alone.  Fascinated by the space he notes: “… first, the eye has to adjust to this dim light, this mystical light that one loves in every Russian church and which will not let unfold the pure opulence of all precious material used” [p. 181].

A day later he complains about the Russian drivers and the ruthless traffic in Saint Petersburg. His driver is “the stupidest” of all, who gets lost every single time they want to go somewhere. Shortly afterwards the driver is replaced because he was drunk.  While he is fond of the austerity of the Russian police and their rigorous enforcement of rules and fines, his opinion is rather low of a horse parade, which he went to see.

After the horse parade he went to visit the Kazan Cathedral.  Again, he is amazed by the mere magnitude of its architecture and the splendid silver interior of the church.

His visit to the Hermitage leaves Moltke in awe.  He praises it as a masterpiece of its type, of utmost taste and beauty. “Nowhere in the world there are more and more precious artworks and treasures in one single place” [p. 185].

18 August 1895

Moltke, aide-de-camp, Lieutenant-Colonel and Commander of the Palace Guards’ Company, is promoted to Colonel by Wilhelm II.

2 October 1895

Back in Saint Petersburg, to deliver a handwritten letter from Emperor Wilhelm II to Emperor Nicholas II. After being received by Prince Radolin, German ambassador in Saint Petersburg and by the military attaché Captain Lauenstein, Moltke resides in the Grand Hotel Europa as guest of His Imperial Majesty the Tsar, as well as being provided with driver and carriage.

On 30^th of September at 11am, Moltke had an audience with the tsar, who asked him to stay for breakfast, in the Alexander Palace at Tsarskoe Selo. The Grand Palais, built by Catherine the Great, was currently empty. Moltke records every detail of this important visit and gives an exciting account of his privilege to meet the Tsar in his residency.  Moltke took the 30 minute train to Tsarskoe Selo, where Count Verson picked him up and took him to the royal residencies. There, Count Benckendorff welcomed Moltke and guided him to the antechamber of the tsar. While they pass by the many armed guards, a door opens and the tsar appears. Both sides are surprised, the tsar being on his way to another room and not yet intending to receive Moltke.  Moltke notes that they stood in deep courtesy in front of the open door [It must have been quite unusual as he concludes this sentence with an exclamation mark].  However, the tsar passed by allowing Moltke and Benckendorff to enter the antechamber where the Minister of Marines, a short but large man with rolls under his arms, is also waiting for an audience. A few minutes later Moltke is allowed to enter the Tsar’s study room to officially meet him.  Moltke, in his dress uniform and with the handwritten letter as well as a print under his arm, feels uncomfortable because of the little incident shortly before. But the Tsar warmly greets him and says “I am pleased to meet you here, now that we met each other before” [p. 190].

He offers him his hand to shake, so Moltke quickly pulls off his right glove and manoeuvres all his stuff to his left hand to be able to accept this kind gesture and to shake the tsar’s hand. Moltke delivers the letter and shows the print, which shows female figures in antique costume on the edge of a rock; rich cities, fields and rivers with ships in a valley below.  The print is made after a painting by Professor Knackfuss, who executed it after a sketch by the German Emperor himself.  The fields represent Europe with Germany in the middle, flanked by Russia and France. In front of the female figures, a ‘cherub of war’ points into the far distance, holding a flaming sword in his hand.  Beyond the rich and glowing city (which represents Europe’s culture and customs) billows a cloud of smoke. The smoke that comes up from this tragic place forms a dragon and finally a Buddha. The intention of the entire painting is, as Moltke mentions, the expected existential battle between the white and the yellow races. The peace talks between China and Japan caused fear in the West that these nations would eventually expand towards Europe. The German Emperor wrote beneath the painting: “Peoples of Europe, maintain your holiest goods.” Moltke explained the intentions behind the picture to the Tsar, adding that these Eastern threats were currently repressed due to the joint actions of Russia, Germany and France.  The Tsar was greatly interested and Moltke found himself explaining every single detail.  Afterwards, Moltke had the honour to have further conversation with the Tsar and was asked to deliver the Tsar’s reply to Germany. When the Tsar kindly said goodbye he asked if Moltke would like to meet his wife as well and that he should ask for an audience with her.  On his way out, Moltke had to leave backwards and lost one of his gloves, which was returned by one of the Russian servants.  He notes that this may be a bad omen, but hoped that God and all holy saints may prevent it.

After his audience with the Tsar he was received by the Tsaritsa, who looked amazing. “Eyes like a Madonna” [p. 192]. And when he kissed her hand goodbye he thought to himself that “the Russian must be so thankful to their God to have such an angel of light of their throne” [p. 192]. After this brief encounter with the Tsaritsa Moltke attended breakfast with the Tsar, as well as Count Versen, Grand Duke Vladimir and another Russian whose name Moltke cannot pronounce. The Tsar, a passionate hunter, had some antlers brought in that Moltke honestly admired as they were quite massive. The breakfast took place in German and Grand Duke Vladimir expressed his wish to meet Moltke again before he leaves. He later sent a telegram to reinforce this wish, inviting Moltke for dinner. Equally, The tsar wished to see Moltke again to hand over his reply for the German Emperor.

Few days later, Moltke is taken out to see the gardens at Tsarskoe Selo and is fascinated by its beauty despite muddy grounds. Again, he provides a meticulous account of the architecture and features of the Palace and all the royal buildings in Tsarskoe Selo (Chinese pavilion etc). At night, he is invited to dine with the German Ambassadors, including Count Pueckler, Mr von Romberg and Lauenstein, in one of their Datschas outside Saint Petersburg.

Back in the city he left a wreath on the grave of Alexander III and was suspiciously looked at as he entered the Peter and Paul Cathedral in his Prussian uniform.

3 October 1895

Second audience with the Tsar. Similar detailed description as his first encounter. The Tsar and Moltke have conversation about hunting and Saint Petersburg. Moltke does not fail to mention that he left a wreath on Alexander III’s gravestone, which apparently touched the young Tsar. Then they sat down to talk business: the Tsar explained that one of his ministers, Mr Lobanoff, who currently resides in France, reported a growing chauvinism in France of which the tsar was not aware to such an extent. If the Tsar had known how easily the French cultivated these chauvinistic tendencies he would have forbidden Lobanoff and his other Russians to go there. The Tsar criticised the French press and mentioned that he is not amused to read French news in the manner of their press. He explained that he tries to read newspapers from Germany, France, Russia and England to form his own opinion but does not believe in the foreign press anyways. “In the end, some Jewish man is making money with this agitation of the peoples” [ p. 200]. Therefore the Tsar concluded to never allow a free press in his country as long as he lives. “The entire Russian press shall only write what I want and my will shall be only in this country” [p. 201].

The Tsar accuses the press further as responsible for the Russian Turkish war and as impacting the good relations between Russia, Germany and France. He further explained that this is a pity as Germany and Russia were in peace for 150 years and would actually have no colliding interests. However, the Tsar noted that the relations on the border between Germany and Russia appear to be peaceful and good, despite the general animosity in the press. Here, Moltke reassured that there are no bad intentions from the German side. He rather worries about France and the French temper. The Tsar replied that he intends to maintain the peace with Germany and wants to maintain the good and necessary trade of goods between the nations. He wishes to continue the peaceful politics his father started in Russia and does not want to lead his Russians into a war as long as he lives.

Later Moltke recalls this conversation with the tsar, when he tells Bismarck about the Tsar’s intentions to never allow a free press, which Bismarck likes very much. Bismarck replies: “For the Russian peasant, the Tsar needs to remain the Father, a half god, yes even almost a god” [p. 207].

20 May 1896; Moscow

Moltke’s first visit to Moscow.  With his embellished manner and his great eye for detail Moltke describes his first impressions of this place and its people.  Here, Moltke was again received by the Tsar and his wife. Afterwards he used a spare evening to visit the Kremlin and to enjoy the view over Moscow from there.  Again, entirely fascinated by the majestic architecture and the opulence of the palaces and churches, Moltke realises that this grandeur is only possible in a great country like Russia.

22 May 1896

Moltke gives a detailed account of the festive parade of the Tsar and Tsaritsa from the Petrovsk Palace to the Kremlin. While thousands of Russians lined the richly decorated streets of Moscow to follow this event, Moltke took part in the parade on a horse. Half way through he gives up describing all the gold, splendour and overwhelming opulence and concludes that is impossible to describe with words [p. 215].

After the parade, Moltke went to see the Opera and afterwards drove through the illuminated city. He notes: “Only here I learned what ‘illuminated’ really means. Thousands and thousands of little colourful glass bulbs cover the buildings. Entire churches built of light until their highest spire rise up to the dark night sky, a fairylike spectacle” [p. 216].

25 May 1896

Moltke tries to write down all his impressions from his visits to museums and galleries, but is so overwhelmed by the great number of breath taking moments that it is hard for him to keep his thoughts in order. However, his appreciation of this place that is clearly so different leaves a deep impression on Moltke which he tries to formulate in his embellished, colourful language, his accounts read like an exciting novel, it is so well written that even the detailed description of a poor peasant’s appearance in front of the Kremlin is a beautiful piece of literature.

27 May 1896

Coronation. Again an event Moltke tries to describe in as much detail as possible. This time he followed it from a stand. Moltke detailed descriptions of fabrics, architecture, art and different people reflect his artistic connoisseurship as well as his ability to understand the deeper meaning of the ceremonies. “This country [of so many different peoples] needs such splendid and over the top ceremonies… Here, religion and worldly powers are melted together in a way that they would bleed to death were they ever parted. … The rigour of the orthodox church is necessary to keep this so diverse country together” [p. 222].

Again he resigns and cannot describe all of his impressions. “Let your imagination flow, to go sky high, and yet you will be nowhere near the reality. All thoughts stop here. … You wonder if you are sane or if you are in a delirium of fever” [p. 224].

1 June 1896

Moltke recalls a party at the French embassy, where he said that the most surprising part was to be able to leave without being squashed. He almost ended up being trampled to death like the 1365 men and women, who died during the festivities.

9 March 1897; Saint Petersburg

Moltke is back in Saint Petersburg and has an audience with the Tsar at Tsarskoe Selo. Later he has breakfast with Prince Vladimir and his family, who want to know everything about Berlin.  Later he meets Grand Duke Michael. Talking to him was like reading in an old diary of the 60s: “… where Russia and Germany as two young drunken students running around the world and bumping into everything on their way.”

Meanwhile, Petersburg turned into a sober and quiet place. No traces of the worldly joys no more.