Antique Imperial Russian Photo Album Grand Duke Boris Romanov Tsarskoe Selo

  

Bibelotslondon Ltd is a UK registered company based in London Bridge dealing in ephemera and curiosities from Britain and around the world. Our diverse inventory is carefully chosen and constantly evolving. We work very hard to offer the highest quality works at competitive prices. Our inventory is listed online, and we strive to keep our website completely up to date, so our customers can easily check availability. We believe in offering clients items that are unique and rare for aficionados of the antique and collector's world.

Bibelot is a late nineteenth century word derived from the French word bel beautiful, meaning a small item of beauty, curiosity or interest. The word ephemera is derived from the sixteenth century Greek word ephmera meaning a printed or hand written paper not meant to be retained for a long period of time. The photographs were taken whilst at the home he built in Tsarskoe Selo in the English style,'Wolf Garden'. At age eighteen, upon coming of age, Grand Duke Boris received from his father a plot of land at Tsarskoe Selo on the eastern bank of the Kolonistky pond near the Moskovskaya Gate.

There, in 1895, the Grand Duke built his own residence in the style of an English country house. All the materials were imported from England and construction was finished in less than a year. The estate, named Wolf Garden, compromised a cottage, coach house, stables, and a small tea house, where the grand duke could entertain his friends. The interiors were designed by Maples importing everything from England. To complement the British atmosphere, the servants were hired from England including a British butler. Boris Vladimirovich lived in Wolf Garden all year round while still serving in the army. The property was run as a modern farm and in 1899 a small house was added for the servants. From his early youth Boris was notorious for his restless life style. He was an extrovert, very social, he liked to drink, gamble and womanizing.

He became a famous playboy. Although loaded with wealth and privilege, Grand Duke Boris found his income insufficient and ran up a huge debt of nearly half a million rubles with his mother. In one year, he spent more than 25,000 rubles for meals, 16,000 for servants and 8,000 for automobiles, giving 46 rubles to the church.

His mother protected him from the wrath of the family. In 1901, Grand Duke Boris, age twenty five, had a liaison with a Frenchwoman, Jeanne Aumont-Lacroix, and had a son by her, born in Paris. The child, Jean Boris Lacroix (19021984), was not recognised.

To break the relationship and strengthen his character Boris's parents sent him, with the Tsar's approval, on a world tour. Further images of the album can be sent upon request. The item "Antique Imperial Russian Photo Album Grand Duke Boris Romanov Tsarskoe Selo" is in sale since Thursday, August 20, 2020. This item is in the category "Collectables\Historical Memorabilia\Royalty Collectables". The seller is "bibelotslondon" and is located in London. This item can be shipped worldwide.

1. Country/Region of Manufacture: Russian Federation
2. Royal/ Reign: Non-UK Royalty
3. Type: Photos
4. Year: 1900s
5. Features: Antique
6. Vintage: Yes
7. Royal: Tsar Nicholas II
8. Royalty: Russian Royalty