the heavy glass of opaque red cut with canted corners, set with a finely chased gilt bronze handle formed as an acanthus leaf wreath, apparently unmarked

Presented to Frances Wilkinson Pickens and Lucy Holcombe Pickens by Alexander II and Empress Maria
Thence by descent

overall excellent condition; the gilt bronze bright and crisp, the deep red weight with some scattered tiny chips to edges consistent with age and use
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

While resident in St. Petersburg as the US Minister to Russia, Pickens and his wife Lucy formed a close friendship with Emperor Alexander II and Maria Alexandrovna. The Imperial couple served as Godparents to the daughter born while in Russia; the emperor showered mother and child with so many luxurious gifts that it was rumored that he was the true father. Many of these gifts were lost during the American Civil War, but this paperweight in the opaque, deep red created at the Imperial Glassworks by Leopoldo Bonafede was one of the few to survive. On the Pickens' time in Russia, see E. Lewis, Queen of the Confederacy, UNT Press, 2003, pp. 103-105.