Czar Alexander III of Russia
n.p., n.d.
Alexander III Imperial Monogram Tea Napkin Featuring Romanov Seal at Center
Other

An ivory linen damask tea napkin embroidered in scarlet with the imperial monogram of Czar Alexander III (1845-1894) in one corner. The imperial cypher is comprised of an "A III" topped by an imperial crown, and measures approximately .75" x 1.125" alone. In addition, the napkin includes blind-woven "A III" cyphers in each corner, and a blind-woven Romanov seal featuring the crowned double-headed eagle at center, measuring approximately 3.75" diameter alone. Ribbon, foliate, and floral patterns appear throughout, and the napkin has a short fringe. Expected wear including stiffly creased folds, and scattered minor discoloration affecting the fabric and fringe, else very good. The unfolded napkin measures approximately 17.5" x 17.25" including the fringe, while the folded napkin measures 9" x 8.75." Accompanied by a photocopy of a letter of provenance stating that this tea napkin was purchased in Moscow, Soviet Union in 1932 by Margaret Carel Maury Alter (1885-1975), the Russophile wife of a Cincinnati industrial executive.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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folded 9" x 8.75"
A photocopy of the original letter on "Robert S. Alter / 2412 Ingleside Avenue / Cincinnati, Ohio" letterhead reads: "Imperial Russian table + tea napkins from Alexander I through Nichola[s] II with imperial crown woven or embroidered. Bought by MMA Moscow 1932." A manuscript note at left lists the full name of "MMA" as "Margaret Parel [sic] Maury Alter." Margaret Carel Maury Alter was the wife of Robert S. Alter (1880-1970), one of early twentieth-century Cincinnati's most prominent citizens. Alter was the son of Franklin Alter, an entrepreneur described in period newspapers as a "well-known capitalist." Robert S. Alter served as the longtime Vice President and Manager of the Foreign Department at American Tool Works, a factory reformed under that name in Cincinnati in 1898. In 1917, Alter was elected as President of the Foreign Trade Commission of the Chamber of Commerce, a nod to his level of experience as a frequent international business traveler.

The Alters were deeply involved in Cincinnati's business community and upper class society. A well-heeled couple, the Alters traveled extensively around the world, and belonged to the Travel Club, a group of Cincinnati travel enthusiasts. The May 13, 1938 issue of the "Cincinnati Enquirer" hints at the Alters' predilection for collecting fabrics, like our imperial Russian napkins: "Of particular interest were the lovely batiks, showing the Borobudor [sic] Temple in Java ? which Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Alter had collected while in the [Dutch] East Indies?" A series of newspaper articles in April 1932 record the details of a lecture on Russian Icons that Margaret Alter delivered at the Cincinnati Art Museum, in conjunction with the exhibition of certain pieces loaned by the American Russian Institute, an effort which the Alters had spearheaded. "Mrs. Alter long has been interested in Russian art," one article noted.