Two Imperial Icons

These two important Imperial Presentation icons by Faberge and Kurliukov, were created as gifts for the 1908 wedding of Grand Duchess Maria Pavlovna the Younger (1890-1958) to Prince Willem of Sweden, Duke of Sodermanland.

The “Feodorovskaya Mother of God” by Faberge, was a gift from the St. Petersburg Nobility Assembly, and an icon of the “Image Made Without Hands” by Kurliukov in the pan-Slavic style, was a gift from the Moscow Merchants’ Association.

These two icons represent the differences in style and political intentions of the two groups of donors. Gifts to Russian Grand Duchesses were known for their extravagance.

Credit: Exhibition overview from museum website.