Russian Works of Art, Fabergé & Icons
Russian Works of Art, Fabergé & Icons
An Important Swiss Collection (lots 65, 73-96, 171-172, 195-199, 231-234, 253)
The Order of St Vladimir, set of insignia, Second Class, St Petersburg, circa 1900
Lot Closed
June 9, 02:18 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
An Important Swiss Collection (lots 65, 73-96, 171-172, 195-199, 231-234, 253)
The Order of St Vladimir, set of insignia, Second Class, St Petersburg, circa 1900
Comprising:
(i) Sash badge, by Nicholls and Plinke of St Petersburg, enamelled red, gold and black, the Cyrillic initials of the saint centered on an ermine mantle surmounted by a crown, struck to suspension ring with marker's mark 'AP', 56 standard, 53mm by 48mm, with a length of black-bordered red sash ribbon
(ii) Breast star, silver and gilt, with gold, silver and enamel centre, with the motto 'Usefulness, Honour and Glory' in Russian, struck to back with maker's initials for Nicholls & Plinke, 84 standard, 88mm by 88mm
2
Acquired at the above sale by the family of the present owner
The Sandars Collection of Imperial Russian Orders
The monumental collection of Orders and Decorations of Paul Sandars Sr was inspired by a gift from his son of a 4th class Badge of St Stanislaus Badge, that he acquired on a visit to Paris. Sandars, who had grown up and trained as a musician in Moscow, had relocated to Germany, then Paris, and finally New York following the occupation of France in 1943, where he entered the world of perfumery. His son’s gift of the St Stanislaus Badge provoked such excitement in Sandars that he began researching the history of the Russian Order. His studies evoked feelings of nostalgia for his homeland and prompted him to amass the largest private collection Russian Orders and Decorations at the time. His linguistic acuity facilitated his collecting as he was able not just to research in Russian, but also to liaise with international curators, collectors and dealers. Upon his death, Sandars’s collection comprised a staggering 650 pieces, of which notable pieces from the present collection formed part (lots 7, 73, 75, 76, 78, 80-82, 85 and 89).