Romanov tea service to be auctioned in Paris

A unique gilded silver tea and coffee service belonging to Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, daughter of Russian Tsar Nicholas I, will be auctioned in Paris on November 12. The set, which has previously been held in a private collection, is considered highly valuable due to its historical significance and exceptional state of preservation.

Crafted in Saint Petersburg in 1840, the neoclassical service includes a samovar, coffee pot, teapot, sugar bowl, milk jug, tea strainer, sugar tongs, and a large oval tray. The pieces are ornately decorated with embossed elements, leaf patterns, pearls, and fruit garlands. Notable design features include handles shaped like Psyche figures with butterfly wings and legs fashioned like lion paws.

Following her marriage to Crown Prince Karl of Württemberg in 1846, the Grand Duchess moved to Germany. While individual pieces from her collection have appeared in the market before, this complete set is a rare occurrence. The auction house Agit noted that the collection is of interest to museums, private foundations, and collectors of European dynastic history.