The watercolor on card depicts a branch of pussy willow next to a partially visible green Easter egg, apparently unsigned. Dimensions: 4 1/8 x 1 5/8 in. (10.4 x 4.1 cm).

Provenance:
Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna (1875-1960)
Prince Andrei Alexandrovich (1897-1981)
Prince Andrew Andreevich (b. 1923)

In Russia & much of Eastern Europe, Palm Sunday is called Pussy Willow Sunday (Вербное воскресенье in Russia &Вербна or квітна неділя in Ukraine) because churchgoers carry these branches in a procession recalling Christ’s entry into Jerusalem when palms were scattered before Him. Palms were not easily found in northern regions & the pussy willow–which becomes barren in winter only to spring to life with buds each spring–became the preferred plant. This card was obviously one of the many hand-painted Easter greetings Grand Duchess Xenia (or Ksenia, as she spelled it) painted for her closest relations.