Emperor Nicholas II and his porcelain plate from the yacht "Standart"

[NICHOLAS II]: (1868-1918) Emperor of Russia 1894-1917. A beautiful white glazed porcelain plate with a blue mark of the Kuznetsov porcelain factory (circa 1908), originating from a service used by Tsar Nicholas II and the Russian Imperial Romanov family aboard the Russian Imperial yacht "Standart." The plate (9 inches in diameter) is decorated with two gold bands along the edges and an image of a double-headed eagle with the Russian imperial arms of the Tsar, executed in black, gold, blue, and red colors. There are minor traces of age on the outer gold rim, and slight paint loss in the center of the eagle's coat of arms. Approximately V.G. Matvey Kuznetsov owned almost all porcelain factories in Russia, including Verbilki, the Gzhel region, Dulevo, the village of Pesochnoye, and the Yaroslavl region. This porcelain was produced for the imperial family at the time of the coronation in 1896, and replacements were made until 1914. Although a significant quantity was produced over the years, research after World War I showed that only about 1,000 pieces survived. The "Standart" was launched in 1895 and at the time was the largest imperial yacht. The "Standart" was equipped with ornamental features, including mahogany paneling, crystal chandeliers, and other amenities that made the vessel a suitable floating palace for the Russian Imperial Romanov family. Tsar Nicholas II and his family were vacationing on the "Standart" in the summer of 1914 when they received news of the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo.