For years I've collected things. Antique dealers and flea market stall holders see me coming and smile. Portobello Road in London, Madrid's Rastro, you name it and I've probably been there. Not spending all that much (because I mostly didn't have it to spend) but taking delight in discovering unusual things--- that have some special significance or that tell a story. Here are some of them.With links, where possible, to more detailed information that should make your discovery of this page and its contents worthwhile
This old (1753) pewter plate comes from Germany. Engraved around
the rim are the words, Ein Weib Des Net Schilt - Ein Hund Der Net Bilt - Eine Katze
Die Net Maust - Sinf Nigs Nuts Im Haus, which is, I'm told, a folksy epigram in Old
German, to the effect that a woman who can't cook is like a dog that can't bark and
a cat that can't catch mice. What I particularly like about the plate are the scratch
marks, made by knives and forks at innumerable banquets (Roast Boar anyone?).
On the 1st of September, 1765, in the Province of Auvergne, 24 year old Jean de la Barriere, Dragoon in the
Regiment of the King and a native of Amberg, received (probably very happily) this
official Discharge from duties with his regiment. The wax seal of the King, who would
soon after lose his head in the Revolution, completes the document. From French military
archives. Are there any de la Barrieres out there in cyberspace?
More than a million Russians poured into Moscow for the coronation ceremony of Nicholas
and Alexandra in May, 1896, which was a splendid occasion, filled with pomp and ceremony.
Half that number made it to Khodynka Field, on the outskirts of Moscow, where they
eagerly awaited the distribution of a free dinner and a souvenir mug. Nicholas later
wrote in his diary, "there was a terrible jam and, it's dreadful to add, about
1,300 people were trampled down..." The excited crowd surged forward, hundreds
of people fell into ditches, to be crushed or suffocated by the mob.
This is the commemorative mug, in white enamel, decorated in blue, white and gold, and bearing the initials of the new Tsar and Tsarina. And here are some of the unfortunates who didn't manage to get a mug.
Nicholas was the eldest son of Alexander III. Here's a family picture, from the album
of the youngest daughter, Grand Duchess Olga (she's the little girl standing in front
of her father). Olga, her sister Xenia and their mother, Empress Maria Feodorovna,
escaped aboard a British battleship during the revolution of 1917. Olga lived for
a time in Denmark (her mother was a Danish princess) and then moved with her second
husband, Colonel Kulikovsky, to a small house in Cooksville, Ontario, Canada. After
her husband died, in failing health, she was looked after by a loyal Cossack. She
died in a room above a barbershop in Toronto.
The Grand Duchess was taught by the Court Artist at St Petersburg and she often would
sit out in her garden and sketch and paint. Below is an example of her work, signed
simply Olga--- a winter scene, in watercolour, probably painted at
her home in Cooksville
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For books about Russia and the Imperial Family:
