Our Museum has regained an early twentieth-century presentation plate belonging to the historic collection of the Alexander Palace.

Produced by the imperial court supplier Pavel Ovchinnikov, the walnut wooden plate with silver mounts and semiprecious stones was presented to Nicholas II by the nobles of the Russian city of Tambov during the emperor's visit on 7 December 1914. It was kept in the Alexander Palace together with many other presentation plates, which were removed from the palace in the late 1910s and the 1930s as "not suitable for the museum".

The plate with an Alexander Palace inventory number on the rear side was spotted at an online auction by Ms Tatiana Burbik-Loman, a Russian art lover from the Netherlands. She applied to Mr Eugeny Skriptsov, a philanthropist from Tambov who graciously assisted our Museum with purchasing and returning the artifact to the place of its provenance.

'We are grateful beyond words to each person and every organization that are not indifferent to the history of Russia and Tsarskoe Selo', says Dr Iraida K. Bott, our deputy director for research and education. 'Their help in returning what was once lost is especially important for the Alexander Palace, whose revived interiors will soon be ready to be filled with exhibits including the regained Plate of Tambov.'

More richly decorated than simple plates, presentation plates were among the numerous gifts that the Tsar received during his journeys all over the country and stored at his palace as memorabilia. Several of those plates have been found and returned to Tsarskoe Selo in recent years.