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Portrait Ring of Nicholas I, Emperior of Russia
Ivan Winberg, 1833
Miniature of Watercolor on Ivory
Gold, Diamonds, Enamel
The Royal Collection |
This magnificent ring dates to 1833 and is attributed to the painter Ivan Winberg. Here, we have a miniature portrait of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia set behind a flat-cut diamond. The watercolor on ivory miniature is set in a ring of enamel, diamonds, and gold. The portrait is surmounted by a diamond-set imperial crown. The shoulders of the ring are flanked with enameled, double-headed eagles of Russia.
I don’t suppose it will come as a shock to anyone at this point that this ring came into the Royal Collection via Queen Mary (of Teck). How she got it, I don’t know. But, she got it—as one does.
2 comments:
After the Russian Revolution, those nobles who managed to escape with anything valuable at all often had to sell their heirlooms for very low prices. This must have been to Mary of Teck what a super sale at Lohman's is to Fran Fine.
How true! And, funny!
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