A late 19^th century Russian silver gilt and cloisonne enamel beaker cup by Morosov, with Russian Royal provenance to ‘Her Imperial Majesty The Czarina of Russia’, in its original satin and red velvet lined fitted oak box bearing makers mark of Morosov to the underside of the cover, the cover with a white metal plaque inscribed “PRESENTED TO ALIX BEATRICE EMMA ALLEN BY HER GODMOTHER HER IMPERIAL MAJESTY THE CZARINA OF RUSSIA, 3^RD OCT. 1896’, with stamped marks to the base, 7cm high, together with a sepia toned photograph relating to the provenance depicting the Harrogate boarding house which Princess Alix of Hesse, once stayed at.

Provenance: The story of the cup goes back to a boarding house in Harrogate where Queen Victoria’s grand-daughter, Princess Alix of Hesse, once stayed at the time she was engaged to Nicholas, the future Czar of Russia, During Alix’x sojourn in Harrogate, twins, a girl and a boy, were born to the owner of the boarding house. The Princess asked if she could be godmother to the infants and every birthday they received presents from her until the Russian revolution in 1917.

By decent from the daughter of the girl twin who had inherited the presents given to her mother, it has remained in the family until now.