A pair of jewelled, pearl and gold Imperial presentation cufflinks by Constantine Nicholls Ewing, St Petersburg ,
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One terminal set with a natural pearl, joined by a chain to a baton terminal set with three old-cut diamonds , totaling approximately 1.10 carats. Each terminal with a maker´s initials "A.H" and 56 standard. The pearls have a diameter of approximately 7 mm and the row of diamonds is 12 mm long. In the original silk and velvet-lined red leather case set with the imperial double-headed eagle on the lid, the silk inside stamped: C. NICHOLLS EWING 4 Perspective de Nevsky St PETERSBOURG.
Provenance
Presentation gift from Tsar Nicholas II in connection with the state visit to Sweden in 1909 to chamberlain Göran av Klercker (1872-1958).
Gift from the latter to lawyer Nils Nordlind (1911-1991) in 1951,
Thence by decent.
Literature
Ulla Tillander Godenhielm: The Russian Imperial Award System 1894-1917, Helsinki 2005, mentioned on page 483.
More information
Constantine Nicholls Ewing, born in Great Britain, was a St Petersburg jeweller active from the early 1880s until 1896. He had an exclusive clientele, including several members of the imperial family, including the Dowager Empress. Nicholls Ewing also supplied jewelry and cigarette cases to the Imperial cabinet as official gifts. However, the identity of the master with the initials A.H. remains unknown. In 1896, Nicholls Ewing's business abruptly ceased for reasons still unknown. These cufflinks remained in stock at the Cabinet of His Imperial Majesty until being presented in 1909.
Göran af Klercker was chamberlain to the Duke of Södermanland, Prince Wilhelm, and he was among those who received official gifts during the Russian imperial couple's official state visit to Sweden in June 1909. These official gifts were carefully documented, and the cufflinks had a value of 467 rubles. His wife, Cecilia af Klercker, Mistress of the Court of the Duchess of Sörmland, Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna, was presented with a signed photograph of Empress Alexandra in a Fabergé frame, valued at 450 rubles (now in the Sörmland Museum: SLM 7241 1).