Baltimore-based Alex Cooper announced today that it has secured the rights to auction a unique piece of Russian history in its upcoming January Gallery Auction on January 25th, 2018. The artifact, LOT 161: Tsar Nicholas II Imperial Monogram Ring, is a 14-carat yellow gold, diamond and enamel piece handcrafted in 19th-Century Russia using the finest quality gems. The ring contains 20 well-matched rose cut diamonds of rare, high-quality color and clarity. It bears the Imperial monogram of Tsar Nicholas II and was originally given by the Tsar to Nicholas, King of Montenegro (present day Serbia).
This ring is a symbol of the decades-long bond forged between Nicholas, King of Montenegro and the Russian Empire, beginning in 1868 when Nicholas journeyed to St. Petersburg to win the favor of Tsar Alexander II. These efforts yielded significant financial, military and educational benefits for Montenegro, taking the form of considerable subsidies for educational, military and other purposes. Over the next five decades, the Russian Imperial Family regularly supplied the King of Montenegro with money, arms and political influence – going so far as to favor Nicholas’ candidacy for the Serbian throne during a period of unrest in Serbia.
It is believed that Tsar Nicholas II bestowed the ring on Nicholas, King of Montenegro as a symbol of friendship at his coronation in St. Petersburg in May of 1896. This ring remained in the possession of the King of Montenegro until it was gifted to Col. Slavo Gjukovitch, ex-aide de camp of His Majesty Nicholas I, King of Montenegro. The ring was sold January 30, 1923 to Mr. Lazar Doklestisch. The ring has remained with the Doklestisch family until present day, when it was consigned with Alex Cooper.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to include a one-of-a-kind Russian artifact in our January collection,” said Paul Cooper, Vice President of Alex Cooper. “We continue to be recognized as a go-to auctioneer by individuals and institutions seeking to sell rare and precious collectibles -- further bolstering our track record of providing our global network of collectors, access to the highest quality items. This is yet another example of how Alex Cooper is helping people rethink how they shop.”
This one-of-a-kind piece of Russian history will be auctioned at Alex Cooper’s Gallery Auction on Thursday, January 25th. The auction will begin promptly at 12 noon EST. All sales will take place at Alex Cooper, located at 908 York Road in Towson, Maryland.
Additional available items can be previewed at the Gallery, or online at http://antiques.alexcooper.com. Online bidding is available through Alex Cooper’s website, along with the Live Auctioneers & Invaluable platforms; phone and absentee bids are also accepted.
Alex Cooper, headquartered in Towson, Md., is one of the largest auctioneers in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1924 by Alex Cooper, the company has more than 50 employees and specializes in the sale of residential, commercial and industrial real estate as well as antiques, household furnishings, vehicles, office equipment and industrial machinery. The showroom also features a “Gallery of Rugs,” offering one of the region’s most expansive rug collections, including pieces from Persia, Turkey, China, India and the Caucasus.
