Terracotta Bust of Russian Emperor Alexander II

Terracotta Bust of Russian Emperor Alexander II
Circa 1870
Modeled wearing the greatcoat and cap of the Imperial Chevalier Guards Regiment, signed Romuald Giedroyc, with painted museum accession number under base. Height 19 inches 48.3 cm).
Provenance:
Hammer Galleries, New York
Purchased from the above in 1949 by India Early Minshall (1885-1965), Cleveland
Bequeathed by the above to the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland
Sold on behalf of the above, Christie's, New York, April 12, 1988, lot 21
Acquired at the above sale by a relative of the present owner
Mrs. Minshall and her husband Thaddeus, founder of the Pocahontas Oil Company, developed a keen interest in Imperial Russian history and works of art. After her husband's death, Mrs. Minshall began collecting Russian works of art, purchasing much of her collection from Hammer Galleries and A La Vieille Russie in New York. Mrs. Minshall later donated her collection, which included important works by Fabergé such the Imperial Red Cross Egg of 1915, to both the Cleveland Museum of Art and to the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland.
Another version of this bust was sold Christie's, London, December 13, 1995, lot 206.

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