Grand Duchess Xenia (or Ksenia) Alexandrovna: A hand-painted, signed New Year’s greeting postcard written to her granddaughter, Princess Xenia Andreevna Romanoff, the front with a bouquet of colorful flowers in a green vase, signed KA at lower right, the reverse with a handwritten letter in English & pre-1917 Russian orthography dated 30 January 1954, the text with Xenia’s New Year’s greetings & blessings in Russian & finishing: “Pishi [Write] to yr. old + very loving Amama.” 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ in. (8.3 x 10.9 cm).

Provenance:
Princess Xenia Andreevna Romanoff (1919-2000)
A member of the Imperial family
Private Collection

Grand Duchess Xenia (or Ksenia, 1875-1960) Alexandrovna was particularly close to her granddaughter & namesake Princess Xenia Andreevna Romanoff (1919-2000). The young girl, together with her parents & two brothers, lived with Grand Duchess Xenia at Frogmore House, a British royal residence. The princess, known as Mysh among family members, was educated at home & spent much of her early childhood with her grandmother. The grand duchess frequently painted Easter & New Year’s gifts & postcards for her family members & those meant for her grandchildren were signed from Amama, the Danish word for grandmother used as a term of endearment among members of the Imperial family.