拍品专文
The arms are those of Prince Christopher Andreevish Lieven, born in Kiev on May 6, 1774, the son of Baron Andrei Romanovich Von Lieven and his wife Charlotte Karlovna, née von Posse. Christopher joined the Semenovskii Regiment in 1791, rose rapidly in rank, transferring to the Vladimir Dragoons and then to the Tula Rifle Regiment, serving in the Persian campaign and in the Caucasus. In 1799 he was elevated to the rank of Count in honour of his mother's services to the Imperial Family. He served during the Napoleonic campaigns, was a witness to the Treaty of Tilsit, and became General-Lieutenant in 1807. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1808 and was appointed plenipotentiary extraordinary to Berlin in 1809. In 1812 he was appointed to London as Ambassador where he was well-respected in political and diplomatic circles until his return to Russia in 1834. As Governor to the Tsarevich (later Alexander II), he accompanied him to Stockholm, Copenhagen and Berlin and died after a short illness in Rome on December 29, 1838.
In 1800 Christopher Andreevich married Daria (Dorothea) Christoforovna Benkendorff, born in 1785, who accompanied her husband on his diplomatic postings. Her salons were known throughout Europe and she was a leader in London Society, as well as mistress of the Austrian foreign minister Metternich and the Duke of Wellington. Moreover, she acquired a reputation as an "intriguante." Dissatisfied with marriage, she refused to return to Russia with her husband and remained in London for health reasons before moving to Baden and finally settling in Paris. Here in 1837 she met the French politician Guizot to whom she became very close. She died in Paris on January 15, 1857. Much has been written about her; her correspondence with Earl Grey was published in 3 volumes in London in 1890; and with Lord Palmerston in 1943.
A further two wine coolers from the same service, by Benjamin Smith, 1807, with one collar and the applied armorials with the maker's mark of Paul Storr, 1813, was sold from the collection of President and Mrs. Ferdinand Marcos by the Republic of the Philippines through the Presidential Commission on Good Government in these Rooms, January 10, 1991, lot 46. The same design was used by Smith for a pair of wine coolers on stands for the Earl of Lonsdale, sold Christie's, London, November 24, 1971.
In 1800 Christopher Andreevich married Daria (Dorothea) Christoforovna Benkendorff, born in 1785, who accompanied her husband on his diplomatic postings. Her salons were known throughout Europe and she was a leader in London Society, as well as mistress of the Austrian foreign minister Metternich and the Duke of Wellington. Moreover, she acquired a reputation as an "intriguante." Dissatisfied with marriage, she refused to return to Russia with her husband and remained in London for health reasons before moving to Baden and finally settling in Paris. Here in 1837 she met the French politician Guizot to whom she became very close. She died in Paris on January 15, 1857. Much has been written about her; her correspondence with Earl Grey was published in 3 volumes in London in 1890; and with Lord Palmerston in 1943.
A further two wine coolers from the same service, by Benjamin Smith, 1807, with one collar and the applied armorials with the maker's mark of Paul Storr, 1813, was sold from the collection of President and Mrs. Ferdinand Marcos by the Republic of the Philippines through the Presidential Commission on Good Government in these Rooms, January 10, 1991, lot 46. The same design was used by Smith for a pair of wine coolers on stands for the Earl of Lonsdale, sold Christie's, London, November 24, 1971.