It proved the star attraction when it appeared at Bonhams New York's November 20 sale of European furniture and decorative arts, where it topped the 250-lot $1.6m (including premium) sale to sell at $440,000 (£314,285), above expectations of $150,000-250,000.
The ornate 2ft 8in (82cm) high vase, standing on a later separate veined black marble plinth, had been in a Dutch family collection since the 1920s and was identified by Bonhams' specialists on the West Coast, where the family now live.
Painted with floral garlands and with elaborate gilt-bronze foliate mounts attributed to the Felix Chopin workshop, the vase is very similar to one commissioned for the dowry of Grand Duchess Aleksandra (1825-1844) for her wedding to Prince Fredrich Wilhelm of Hessel-Kassel, which is now in the museum collection at Schloss Fasanerie, Eichenzell, fuelling the theory that this vase was created for one of the Tsar's other daughters.
A full report of the Russian sales in London appears in this week's ATG printed newspaper. To subscribe click here.
