Louis Vuitton sends items to the Russian Court. 1859.
Very rare manuscript from Louis Vuitton addressed to Count André Schouvaloff, high dignitary of the Court of Saint Petersburg and aide-de-camp to Tsar Alexander II.
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Very rare manuscript from Louis Vuitton addressed to Count André Schouvaloff, high dignitary of the Court of Saint Petersburg and aide-de-camp to Tsar Alexander II.
Sold
Louis Vuitton (1821.1892).
Autographed and signed piece.
One page in-4° on lined blue paper with Louis VUITTON letterhead – General packaging.
Paris. September 7, 1859
Very rare manuscript by Louis Vuitton addressed to Count André Schouvaloff (Piotr Andreievitch Chouvalov (1827-1889), high dignitary of the Court of Saint Petersburg and aide-de-camp to Tsar Alexander II)
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"Paris, July 7 , 1859. I , the undersigned, declare that I am sending to Count André Schouvaloff, aide-de-camp to His Majesty the Emperor of Russia, Quai Anglaise in St. Petersburg, a concealed crate containing two black wood bookcases with copper inlay, valued at 1200 francs. Insure for 3000 francs. Louis Vuitton. Send seventy-five francs 35 centimes, including the 25 francs. Louis Vuitton. Total for the company: 50 francs."
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This document is situated within the context of a rapprochement between Napoleon III's France and Alexander II's Russia, who succeeded his father in 1855 and reshaped foreign policy. The two powers, having signed a trade alliance treaty in 1857, no longer considered each other enemies; the Russian aristocracy and intelligentsia could freely travel to France, to Paris, and also to the French Riviera, where they enjoyed its pleasures. It is likely that this order was sent, via aides-de-camp, to the Tsar himself. It is known that after Louis Vuitton's death, trunks of his design were highly prized by the Russian court, notably by Prince Orlov and Tsar Nicholas II himself.