ANDREI VLADIMIROVICH (Grand Duke, 1879-1956, Russian Major-General, Grandson of Tsar Alexander II, Cousin of Nicholas II) and his wife KSCHESSINSKA (Princess Matilda Maria, 1872-1971, Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Imperial Ballet, Mistress of Nicholas II when Tsesarevich)

Christmas Card signed in English, 'Grand Duke André' & 'Princess Krasinsky', not inscribed, but to her nephew Slava Astafiev (d. 1976), photo of the Palais de Chaillot in Paris on the front, folding card 4½" x 5", no place, no date, c. two light red smudges on margin, one just touching photo

Matilda was given the title 'Princess Krasinska' by Andrei's brother Kyrill on her marriage in 1921. From 1929 she taught at her own school in Paris till she was 92. See Matilda's memoirs, 'Dancing in Petersburg', translated by Arnold Haskell, 1960.
Slava was the son of Matilda's brother, the actor Joseph Kschessinsky (1868-1942), and his first wife the famous ballerina Serafima Alexandrovna Astafieva (1876-1934), known as 'Sima'. Sima left Russia and set up her ballet school at 152 Kings Road, Chelsea, in 1916. Slava married Margot Luck (d.1976), one of his mother's pupils. Other pupils included Alicia Markova, Anton Dolin and Margot Fonteyn.

Item Date:  1930

Stock No:  14340      £325

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