The Last Days of the RomanovsSokolov, N. (Nikolai)
History
The Last Days of the Romanovs
Sokolov, N. (Nikolai)
Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1868-1918; Romanov, House of
(7) Thirteen round pearls as of high quality, all belonging to one rope.
(8) Five fragments of pearl, belonging to one large gem of finest
orient, severed by a heavy weight or trampling.
(9) Another broken pearl of high quality.
(10) Two fine brilliants declared to have formed part of an ornament of
large size.
(11) Portion of a large diamond silver-mounted ornament bearing traces
of heavy blows.
(12 to 21) Precious stones--diamonds, sapphires, rubies, almandine, and
topazes--and settings, all bearing marks, as experts show, of having
been crushed or severed by heavy or cutting objects.
(22 to 28) Articles and appurtenances of apparel, including pieces of
cloth identified as parts of the Empress’s skirt, the Tsarevich’s
military overcoat and Botkin’s overcoat; six sets of corset steels--the
Empress would not permit her daughters or the servants to go without
corsets, neither would she herself; (Demidova wore them also--that would
make exactly six); metallic parts of corset suspenders and fragments of
silk and elastic; the Tsarevich’s belt buckle; the Tsar’s belt buckle,
both identified; three paste shoe buckles of first-class workmanship,
one identified as the Empress’s, two as belonging to the grand
duchesses; a large number of buttons, hooks and eyes, etc., some
identified as belonging to the Empress’s dress, also military buttons
corresponding with the uniforms and caps of the Tsar and Tsarevich, as
made for them by the court tailor in Petrograd. The appurtenances of
female costume were such as the court dressmaker used for the family.
There were also parts of apparel such as were used by the tailor who
dressed the court servants. The footgear remnants showed strong action
by fire. Experts were able, however, to note that they included cork and
fine brass screws, both evidences of high-class articles. In their
opinion the remnants might well represent seven pairs of boots.
(29 to 41) Exhibits of equal if not greater interest. Among them may be
cited:--A pocket case in which the Tsar always carried his wife’s
portrait; three small ikons worn by the grand duchesses, having in each
case the face of the saint destroyed as if blows had been aimed at them;
the Empress’s jubilee badge of her Lancer regiment; the gold frame of
Botkin’s eye-glasses; a large spectacle glass such as the Empress wore
at Tobolsk; remnants of the Tsarevich’s haversack, in which he was
accustomed to keep his treasures; several bottles as used for smelling
salts, always carried by the grand duchesses, and finally a varied
assortment of nails, tinfoil, copper coins, etc., which vastly puzzled
Sokolov till somebody, I think Mr. Gibbes, reminded him that Alexis was
fond of collecting odds and ends, being of a very saving disposition,
like his father.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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