The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were a time of particular elegance and extravagance for the Tsars and the wealthy families with whom they were linked.
Nowhere are their lavish tastes more apparent than in the imperial jewels.
Every jewel tells a story. Through his work at Sotheby's and Christie's and his own extensive research, Stefano Papi has spent years unravelling the mysteries of Russian imperial jewelry.
The Romanovs ruled Russia from 1613 to 1917, when the Revolution brought their reign to an abrupt end. Images of the Romanovs and their world are matched with the jewelry itself, offering previously unpublished insights into its character and how (and by whom) it was worn, and bringing it to life. Papi identifies pieces with little or unknown provenance, and he uncovers the fascinating stories behind the jewels and the people who wore them.
He takes us through the golden years, and after the Revolution he follows the survivors and their jewelry in European courts and in Paris, where many exiles sought refuge. The book closes with the post-war years, in the 1930s.
Stefano Papi has worked as senior European specialist in the jewelry departments of both Sotheby's and Christie's auction houses. His previous publications include Famous Jewelry Collectors, Stage Jewels and Jewellery of the House of Savoy.
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