A large Russian silver serving platter with Imperial cypher & the Imperial State Seal from the dowry service of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, Henrik August Läng, Nicholls & Plincke, Saint Petersburg, 1840. The circular platter decorated with a scalloped leafy rim, bearing the the Grand Duchess’ engraved Imperial cypher, the opposite side engraved with the Imperial double-headed eagle. The underside struck with the Latin initials N&P, mark of Nicholls & Plincke, workmaster’s mark, & 84 standard. Also with N. 31scratched, most likely a Russian palace inventory number. Diameter 14″ (35.6 cm). Weight 1288 g.
Provenance:
Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, later Queen Olga of Württemberg (1822-1892)
Grand Duchess Vera Konstantinovna, Olga Nikolaevna’s foster daughter (1854-1912)
Thence by descent
This platter is from the dowryservice commissioned by Nicholas I for his daughter, Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna on the occasion of her 18th birthday in 1840. In 1846, she married Charles I (Karl Friedrich Alexander) of Württemberg & became Queen Olga of Württemberg in 1864.The Magasin Anglais founded by Charles Nicholls & William Plincke was the most fashionable shop in which to purchase luxuries & was one of the primary suppliers of table silver to the Imperial from the 1830s to 1880. The store was located on Nevsky Prospect at the corner of Bolshaya Morskaya Street, later home to Fabergé & other Imperial court jewelers.