The Jewels of the Romanovs: Family & Court

A magnificent survey of the Romanov jewels, uncovering the fascinating stories behind the pieces and the people who wore them.

The Romanovs ruled Russia from 1613 to 1917, when the Revolution brought their reign to an abrupt end. The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were a time of elegance and extravagance for the tsars and the wealthy families with whom they were linked by marriage, and nowhere are these lavish tastes more apparent than in the imperial jewels.

Every jewel tells a story. Through his extensive research, Stefano Papi has spent years unravelling the mysteries of Russian imperial jewelry. He has identified pieces with little or unknown provenance, and uncovers the fascinating stories behind the jewels and the people who wore them. He takes us through the golden years, and – after the Revolution – he follows the survivors of the Romanov line, and their jewelry, in European courts and in Paris, where many exiles sought refuge.

Now in a revised and expanded new edition, the book is published to coincide with the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Romanov dynasty.

Stefano Papi has worked as senior European specialist in the jewelry department of both Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses. His previous books include Famous Jewelry Collectors, Stage Jewels and Jewellery of the House of Savoy.