Russian silver travel tea service, gilt interior, comprising tea kettle with stand, tea pot, tea caddy, marmelade jar in a leather bag adapted in the tea pot, alcohol stove with container in a leather bag adapted in the tea kettle, a pair of teaspoons, a pair of quadratic trays and a rectangular tray, furthermore two porcelain tea cups with saucers. Gratchev Brothers, Petersburg, 1884. In original leather box, lined with violet velvet and silk, key enclosed. C. 2.180 g. H. tea kettle (incl. handle) 14 cm. L. quadratic tray 26.5 cm. H. box 21.5 cm.
Provenance: Prince Valdemar of Denmark, his estate auction Sagf?rernes Auktioner May 1939, nr. 250 or identical no. 251. The travel tea service was acquired by count Bille-Brahe-Selby, who later sold it to the present owner.
Prince Valdemar of Denmark (1858–1939) was son of King Christian Ix and Queen Louise of Denmark, married 1885 Princess Marie of Orléan and together they settled down in Copenhagen. Prince Valdemar was a younger brother to Tsaritsa Maria Feodorovna of Russia (1847–1928), and the travel tea service was presumably originally a present from the Tsaritsa to her parents or her younger brother.