Bidspirit auction | A PAIR OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL

A PAIR OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL PORCELAIN ICE CUPS FROM THE SERVICE OF GRAND DUKE KONSTANTIN NIKOLAEVICH - Imperial Porcelain Manufactory, St. Petersburg, period of Nicholas I, circa 1848. Each of tapering cylindrical form with a spreading foot and a pair of pierced foliate handles, richly painted and gilt with interlaced geometric and foliate ornament in the Russian Revival style. Each cup is painted on one side with the crowned Imperial double-headed eagle and on the reverse with the crowned cypher ”VKKN” for Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich. The interiors are partly gilt. Marked beneath with dot-and-dash marks in underglaze blue, with additional gilt and iron-red decorator's marks. The service was designed by Feodor Solntsev and commissioned in 1848 to commemorate the marriage of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich (1827-1892), second son of Emperor Nicholas I, to Princess Alexandra of Saxe-Altenburg, later Grand Duchess Alexandra Iosifovna. Grand Duke Konstantin served as Admiral General of the Imperial Russian Navy and played a leading role in its modernization. He was also closely involved in the reforms of Alexander II, including the emancipation of the serfs, and served as Viceroy of Poland from 1862 to 1863. Literature. An identical ice cup is discussed and illustrated in Anne Odom, ”The Tsar's Cabinet: Two Hundred Years of Russian Decorative Arts Under the Romanovs, ” p. 40, no. 122. Dimensions: H: 3 in., (7.5 cm.) Conditions: Minor surface wear and scratches. Otherwise in good condition. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions offers in-house shipping. In case we can not accommodate a shipping request, a list of additional shippers will be provided. Please make all inquiries before bidding. All lots are sold ”as-is”, refer to our T&C. Helios Auctions offers in-house shipping. In case we can not accommodate a shipping request, a list of additional shippers will be provided.