400 year since the first Romanov entered the Tzar throne

[Hephaistos]

Occasionally, this unknown brooch popped up on the world scene, showing the last tzar Nicholas II. Gold, silver and 60 rose-cut diamonds. Backside without any stamps. Size 29 x 29 mm.




Front shows a detailed, almost photgraphic face of the tzar, an admirable miniature portait. Any doubt of the russian origin? Who is the painter?






It is known that some deliveries to the tzar family did not pass the assaying office in St Petersburg, and nobody complained of the non-paid assaying tax. Any guess of the maker and the authencity?

[Zolotnik]

Hi Hephaistos -

April 1st is over.......but for the fakers and their fans everyday is April 1st!

We nearly all know that objects for the Tsar were of exeptionel quality and markmanship! As far as I know all objects were marked by the artists/makers - but sometimes were not assayed oficially - masters vouched with their good name. The reason for that in my opinion: a certain secrecy.
I think it gives not much sense to discuss this "Franken-brooch", only some hints:

The material is as expected red gold, but the modern lock is yellow gold. Soldering and finish is more than poor!

2 simple examples for people like you and me:

Enamel brooch



Locking system "hook"



Silver/Gilded brooch (copy of a grave robbery from the Scyths...)



Modern locking system "safety"



A present for the Tsar



A gold and enamel box decorated with Tsar Nicholas II´s crowned monogram and diamonds. Produced for the 1913 Romanov Jubilee. Approximately 8 cm x 5 cm. Signed N.CH. (Nicholas Chernikov in Cyryllic lettering). Made by Bolin.
That´s the way presents look like....

Regards
Zolotnik

[Hephaistos]

It is still not 1 of April, but it is 2013 and it might be so that just because the 400 years of Romanov, a lot of Russian imperial memories will show up. The shown piece is an example of what may be presented.

First of all, it is not correct that all give-aways from the tsar family were decorated with the cypher of the tsar (or the tsaritsa). Snuff boxes, cigarette cases or whatever carrying the cypher, often made in rows of small rose-cut diamonds, were given only to prominent persons. Watches, brooches and jettons given to service personnel did not bear the cypher. And all these things were made and given away in large amounts, if an inauguration occurred, or the tsar family was travelling, chests of precious metal and jewelry were packed. So, and now to my point, the missing cypher is not the criteria of authentic or not.

The portrait miniature as such has high quality and in the style of the former millennium shift. But here we have a problem, the portrait is not depicting the tsar Nicholas II, it is another person. From anywhere, made anywhere. Just because the style of framing the portrait, and the use of rose-cut diamonds, common in framing in St Petersburg 100 years ago, shall not mislead us to believe that a tsar is depicted.

Conclusion, - beware of items coming up depicting persons with mustaches under 2013. It is likely a Prussian officer or a railway engineer, but not a tsar.

Finally, the item is not a fake. It is not pretending to be anything else but a brooch, probably a gift from a husband to his wife. It is an innovative antique dealer of today who found that if adding some spices to the anonymous brooch, the price-tag increased 10 times.

And this little bagatelle triggered Zolotnik to once more open his showroom of various articles — thanks for that.

[Zolotnik]

Hi Hephaistos -

another Imperial gem - must be from the Court´s vicinity.....that´s what the dealer said ....and it looks very Russian....



Regards
Zolotnik