Magnus Conrad Armin baron von FÖLKERSAM (1861-1917) Inventory of silverware kept in the Imperial palace furniture depositories: Winter Palace, Anitchkov Palace and Gatchino Castle. Volume I & Volume II. Published by the Ministry of the Emperor's Household, edited by Baron A. de Foelkersam. Golicke and Willborg, St. Petersburg 1907. Armin Evguenievitch baron von Fölkersam, gentleman of the Chamber, was chief curator of the department of valuables and the porcelain and silver gallery of the Hermitage. With the permission of Emperor Nicholas II, this copy was given to the London antiquarian and art historian George Charles Williamson (1858-1942). With handwritten letters, a photocopy of a letter and typescript translations on loose leaves: - Five letters from Court Marshal Count P[avel Konstantinovitch] de Benkendorff to Williamson dated June 23, July 8 (photocopy), July 30, October 3, 1910 and May 24, 1911. - A letter from Fölkersam to Williamson dated 3/16 x 1910 (with a typescript translation into English). - A letter from Major General Mikhail Alexandrovich Lermontov (Director of Peterhof Palace) to Williamson dated October 13, 1910. - Two typescript copies of letters from Williamson to Foelkersam dated April 7 and June 2, 1914. - A handwritten letter from Edward Hamilton Bell (1857-1929), art historian, to Williamson dated May 1, 1914. - A handwritten letter from Charlotte Knollys (1835-1930), lady-in-waiting and secretary to Queen Consort and later Dowager Alexandra, to Williamson dated May 28, 1919. - Two typescripts by Williamson. In one, Williamson relates the audience with Nicholas II which did not take place, and writes: "Subsequent events with regard to ourselves made all the matter clear, satisfactory and need not be alluded to, but it may be of interest to add that as an expression of His Imperial Majesty's regard on that particular occasion, an official waited upon me at the Hotel shortly afterwards, presenting two volumes of a privately printed catalog expressly prepared for the Emperor himself, which was sent in an expression of regret." This fact is confirmed in the handwritten letter from Count P. de Benkendorff dated July 30, 1910: "With the permission of His Majesty the Emperor, I have deposited at the Hotel, at the same time as this letter, the two volumes of Baron de Foelkersam's work on Court silver". In 1773, Catherine II commissioned Josiah Wedgwood to produce an earthenware service known as the "Frog Service" for the new Kekerikeksinski Palace (renamed Tchesmé for the tenth anniversary of the naval victory over the Turks in 1770), built on a former frog marsh. This remarkable service included 944 pieces (680 dinner and 264 dessert) and was decorated with 1,222 views of British landscapes and antiques (Catherine II had wanted to have all of England on her table!). In 1909, to mark the 150th anniversary of Josiah Wedgwood's company, G. Ch. Williamson decided to write a book on "Russian service". To collect material, he obtained permission from the Ministry of the Imperial Household and travelled to St. Petersburg, where he was assisted by the Court Marshal, Count P. K. Benckendorff. The photographs in his book were taken by personal order of Nicholas II. [RUSSIAN ART]