Our Museum purchased a cruet set for condiments from the silver service of Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, the second daughter of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia and Empress consort Alexandra Fyodorovna (nee Charlotte of Prussia).

The set includes a silver stand and three cut-crystal containers (cruets) for salt, vinegar and olive oil.  Each item has an engraved monogram of the Russian letters ОН under the imperial crown. A double-headed eagle on the silver stand refers to its provenance from the grand duchess’ service.

The silver parts are dated 1840 and marked by St Petersburg’s Nichols & Plincke (N & P) jewelers, silversmith Heinrich August Long (H.A.L) and assay master D.I. Tverskoy. Carl Nichols and Constantin Plincke ran the English Shop company in downtown St Petersburg during 1804-42 and were the Imperial Court’s purveyors from 1820. Famous for the highest quality of products, they often commissioned Heinrich August Long and his apprentices as well.

Nicholas I ordered the 500-piece service in the “Second Rococo” style for 100 persons and official receptions as his present to Olga on her eighteenth birthday. One of Europe’s best brides, his daughter was married out to become Queen consort of Württemberg. After the wedding at Peterhof on 13 July 1846, Olga took the service to Europe, where it was then split up. Hundreds of years later, pieces of it started to appear at European antique auctions.

The purchased set is of great memorial value to Tsarskoe Selo and will grace any exhibition on the time and family of Nicholas I.