Beaded embossed leather presentation portfolio.

A remarkable beaded portfolio presented to 'To Prince A. A. Suvorov, the embodiment of civic virtues.' This is a truly unusual example of Russian crafstmanship with its colourful and elaborate beadwork. The dedicatee was the Russian general, diplomat and politician Alexander Arkadyevich Suvorov (1804-1882), grandson of the great Alexander Suvorov (1729-1882). He was educated at Hofwyl in Switzerland, the Sorbonne and Gottingen, perfectly mastering foreign languages and becoming well-versed in Western European politics.

Fighting in the Caucasus and in Poland as a young man, he was later sent on numerous diplomatic missions to the German courts. In 1848 he became Governor-General of the Baltic provinces, at which he was considered to excel. From 1861 he was governor general of Saint Petersburg and from 1866 inspector general of the infantry. It is likely that the present portfolio was given to Suvorov either during his European diplomatic career, or else his governing roles in the Baltic or Saint Petersburg, it forming a most suitable formal gift for a diplomat or public political figure.

The silk lined interior incorporates three large expanding compartments with gilt titled tabs in French ('Lettres à Répondre', 'Lettres Répondues', and 'Nôtes Diverses').

Large folio (49.5 x 36 cm); embossed leather portfolio with colourful beaded Cyrillic dedication panel to the lower panel, the upper cover with beaded floral decorated panel, lined interior incorporating three large expanding compartments with gilt, titled tabs in French and with a metal lock (lacking the clasp); some loss to the beadwork on the floral design without effecting the image; some staining and a little insect damage to the silk, otherwise it is in good order, remaining structurally sound.