A beautiful gift for the State Hermitage Museum. An Imperial Russian Field Marshal Baton

Following a great tradition that takes place as the New Year approaches, the Hermitage unveiled on December 2018 new items that have been presented to the Museum throughout the year. The piece, which was auctioned by Christie’s in 2004 was described in the auction catalogue as “An extremely rare jeweled, enamel and gold Russian Field Marshal's baton marked Keibel, St. Petersburg, circa 1878, 72 zolotniks gold standard, with later stamped inventory number 1822”.  Of cylindrical form, with detachable end, the gold stippled ground body with twisted green guilloché enamel oak and bulrush leaves, each end with a large gold-mounted Imperial double-headed eagle set with diamonds and rose-cut diamonds and on the reverse a laurel wreath set with rose-cut diamonds and emeralds within a triple diamond band borders, fully marked. 19¼ in. (48.9 cm.) long.

The piece has an interesting trajectory. The Hermitage writes that the Baton was first awarded to Emperor Alexander II as the only Russian emperor to achieve the rank of field marshal. Christie’s Catalogue claims that the piece was most likely, first awarded to General Joseph Vladimirovich Gurko in 1894. The interesting part here would be to find out how did the Hermitage concluded that the Baton had been first awarded to the Emperor. The piece was re-issued by the Imperial Cabinet, as it was customary, and awarded to King Nikola I of Montenegro in 1910. The Baton remained with the descendants until it was acquired by a collector. The piece was finally auctioned by Christies’ and possibly purchased by the government of the Russian Federation or by its President who presented to the Hermitage during his visit to the Museum on October 3, 2018. It’s whereabouts and its return to Russia make this piece a fascinating example of infusing life to a great artistic object.