A Russian Porcelain Plate from the Alexandria Yacht Service Imperial Porcelain Factory, St. Petersburg, Period of Nicholas II (1894-1917), circa 1909 10 inches (25.4 cm) PROVENANCE: Sotheby's Olympia London, 2006; John Atzbach Antiques, Bellevue, Washington; The Kathleen Durdin Collection of Russian Decorative Arts, Tampa, Florida. Inspired by a service originally designed for the Cottage Palace in Peterhof, the Alexandria Yacht Service was commissioned for the Imperial Yacht of the same name. This elegant and simple service is distinguished by its use of the Cottage Palace's shield, a sword piercing a wreath of white roses, surrounded by a Russian motto. The shield's design was created by the poet, Vasily Zhukovsky. (cf. de Guitaut, C., Russia, Royalty & the Romanovs, London, 2018; and see also discussion of the Cottage Service, Bagdarasova, I.R., Iz Serviznykh Kladovykh (etc)., State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, 2016, p. 328. Property from the Kathleen Durdin Collection HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved