Rare Russian Imperial Fan of Empress Maria Feodorovna

(wife of Alexander III, mother of Czar Nicholas II).

Tortoise shell and black lace folding fan, Moscow, 1908-1917. The front guard is applied with a large diamond-set silver cipher of Empress Maria (Cyrillic ‘MF’ under the Imperial crown) and three rose & lemon gold appliques in the Art Nouveau style. The small diamond-set silver emblem in the form of crossed anchor and axe above the monogram, indicates that the fan was a gift from the Ministry of Transportation, perhaps, presented to the Empress on her birthday. Length 12 1/4 in. (35 cm).

The emblem and cipher are set with 105 rose-cut and brilliant diamonds. The cipher is 1 3/4 in. (4,5 cm) high.

The gold loop is struck with 56 standard (14K)/Moscow assay mark 1908-1917, the ring with master’s initials Cyrillic ‘VG’, probably for Vladimir Gordon.

Comes with inlaid parquetry wooden fan case.