800 items from the era of Nicholas II auctioned in Paris

PHOTO: military uniform from the era of Emperor Nicholas II

Last month, the famous Hôtel Drouo auction house in Paris was the venue for the sale of 800 items of Russian Imperial art from the era of Emperor Nicholas II. Among these remnants of Russia’s glorious past are items which belonged to Emperor Nicholas II, Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich and other members of the Russian Imperial Family.

The auction is based on the collection of “Monsieur. G.”, a French historian and collector of Russian origin, formed over more than 50 years. “Mr. G.” devoted a significant part of his life to the search for objects, archival documents and memorabilia that survived the Russian Revolution and the exodus of tens of thousands of White Russian Empires.

This outstanding collection features a marvelous pieces of Imperial Russian militaria worthy of any museum: uniforms, headgear and regimental badges, regimental flags, swords, daggers, orders, jetons and historical memorabilia spanning up to 1918.

In addition are portraits, paintings, photographs, icons, porcelain, silverware, jewelry, books and more. Of particular note are some 29 lots from the Collection of Grand Duke Mikhail Alexandrovich (see pages 96-103 in catalogue No. 1).

Recall that after marrying Natalia Wulfert (later Countess Brasova) without Tsar Nicholas II’s permission, Mikhail and Natalia left Russia in 1912 and briefly lived in exile in France. They returned to Russia following the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. After Mikhail was executed by the Bolsheviks in Perm, Russia, in 1918, Natalia and their son Georgy later spent time in France (where Georgy died in a car accident in Sens in 1931, and Natalia died in Paris in 1952).

The auction was held over two days: on 17th and 18th September 2026. The auction raised a total of 4.3 million Euros [$4.8 million USD].

Below, you can download, review and print ALL three French language catalogues, I have provided a link underneath each of the auction catalogue covers . . .