Ermine Coat, Marija Pawlowna Romanowa, Russia, ca. 1908

A dream of a coat: a successful combination of fur and lace. Ermine and Irish lace alternate in the look. The fur runs from top to bottom and is decorated with ermine tails. They are all there! The inside of the coat is lined with silk. The edges of the inside of the coat are finished with pleated tulle. Half-length sleeves, made in pagoda style. Inner sleeves made from the same pleated tulle. The coat is in excellent condition. A small stain in the back (in the lace area). The tulle on the inside has become a little thin in some places. However, it allows the coat to be worn carefully.

The coat comes from an old collection. It belongs to the family of Marija Pawlowna Romanowa. It may even have belonged to her personally. Grand Duchess Mariya Pavlovna Romanova was a princess from the House of Romanov-Holstein-Gottorp. Mariya Pavlovna was the only daughter of the Russian Grand Duke Pavel Alexandrovich Romanov (1860-1919) and his cousin and wife, Princess Alexandra of Greece and Denmark (1870-1891). Mariya Pavlovna and her younger brother grew up with relatives (after their mother died young), Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov and his wife, Princess Elisabeth of Hesse-Darmstadt. They were taught exclusively at home by governesses and tutors with the help of the library. In addition to geography, history, mathematics, art, dance and music, she also learned French, English and German. Until her wedding, the French governess Mademoiselle Hélène was her constant companion. On May 3, 1908, Maria Pavlovna married the Swedish Prince Wilhelm, Duke of Södermanland (1884-1965) and second son of King Gustav V of Sweden and his wife Viktoria of Baden in Tsarskoye Selo (source: Wikipedia). This exquisite coat also dates from around 1908.