RUSSIAN ENAMELLED, PARCEL GILT, ENGRAVED AND CUT-GLASS IMPERIAL WINE GLASS, NICHOLAS II, FROM THE ROYAL YACHT "STANDART"
Circa 1910, The Imperial Glass Factory, St. Petersburg
the tapered cylindrical colorless glass bowl engraved and enamelled in black and gilt with the Imperial double-headed eagle and crowned interlaced initials of Emperor Nicholas II and his wife the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, the lower portion of the bowl also cut with a band of arches, the faceted tapering baluster stem continuing to a circular spreading foot, unmarked.

Height 6 ½ in.(16.6 cm.)

Provenance: The offered Imperial wine glass hails from the Collection of James Goldman. James Goldman, a noted author, wrote the screen play for the 1971 film "Nicholas and Alexandria", which he adapted from Robert Massie's book of the same title. Goldman also wrote the play, which he later adapted into a screen play for the 1968 film "The Lion in Winter". Both Goldman for his screen play and Katherine Hepburn for her role as Eleanor of Aquitaine, received oscars for the film.

Cf. The Standart, the most elegant ship in existence was reserved for the exclusive use of Tsar Nicholas II and the Imperial Family of Russia. Commissioned by Nicholas himself in 1895 this ‘ship of state’ was built in Copenhagen to the Tsars specifications and named after Peter the Greats renowned frigate. The largest private ship of its kind in the world was to become the world’s most luxurious and the dream ship of every crowned head of Europe.

420 feet in length, 50 feet wide, with a displacement of more than 5500 tons, the triple mast ship donned a gold leaf double-headed eagle, similar to that engraved on the offered glass, as its figurehead. The ships two dining rooms, multiple drawing rooms, numerous state bedrooms, studies, library and a chapel reserved for the private use of the Imperial Family were outfitted to resembled in every way a floating palace.

Upon the demise of the Royal Family the Standart was placed in dry dock until 1936, when she was converted to a minelayer. Ironically during World War II, she played a significant role in the defense of Leningrad against the Germans.

(1394-27)
Excellent Condition, strong provenance