State creditors in Moscow pursued him in the British courts, claiming he embezzled hundreds of millions. Featuring our stunning jumbo cord overshirt and trousers, silk blouses and folk print dress, this collection is your one stop shop to style her fairy tale inspired Fair Isle jumper and tank top. Riding the length of the Silk Road in 1999, from the ruins of Merv, in Turkmenistan, to Xian, in China, set off this whole apocalyptic adventure or perhaps I should say misadventure. After nearly 11 years, however, Tolstoy is moving on from the home she has so lovingly put together, and is now offering some of its contents for sale at Christie's. We had an oligarchic lifestyle, and even had a suite on standby at Claridges. Born July 1, 1884 Died September 26, 1979 (95) Add or change photo on IMDbPro Add to list Known for Martin the Cobbler 8.1 Short Narrator (voice) 1977 Royal Geographical Society in London that first got me into leading tours. I was fascinated to know whether, in a contrary sense, this had prepared her and the children for lockdown, as shed already become so accustomed to feeling great isolation, especially in their French chteau, which was sort of isolation anyway. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, Sunday February 09 2020, 12.01am GMT, The Sunday Times. We became addicted to travelling in this way. We're excited to be offered a peek into the world of Alexandra Tolstoy. 894646. Ive entertained in this house a lot, Tolstoy tells Christies during our video shoot at Glebe Place earlier in the year. This led to her being gassed and admitted to hospital herself. I led them, with Shamil, from Bukhara to Samarkand, and it was a success. 1,514 posts. "The Scottish cupboard lined with striped fabric by Colefax. Shortly afterwards I introduced her to Emma for decoration help with other projects globally and the relationship grew and grew. Simon Brown 2/8 Cushions and textiles add colour to the pale linen-covered sofas. I suppose that I was not very confident anyway, and I felt I needed to live-up to these very shiny, perfect girls and I was a bit Bridget Jones-like in comparison to them, so felt probably a bit inadequate I shouldve just carried on the way I was I didnt realise, but it accentuated how lost Id become, and it also made me much more dependent on him, so I think he liked it, because it isolated me from my family., She now considers the trappings of her private-jet-chic vulgar, and has since sold almost all that which shes kept, realising bogged down the luxurious tokens of her billionaire lifestyle: The really cathartic moment was last summer I thought I have to sell these ridiculous handbags, I have to sell them because theyre actually quite liquid its money that I can use to pay school fees and I can educate the children I suddenly managed to make myself look at them and think its not really me anyway.. Its not even like I was that good at riding, recalls Tolstoy of the nine-month, 5,000-mile journey from Merv in Turkmenistan to Xian in China. But my father encouraged me to read and, as a teenager, I read a lot of Leo Tolstoy Im a relative of the writer as well as Lermontov, Chekhov, Dostoevsky and Turgenev. A year later, they met again at an awards ceremony attended by the Russian president. Everything was paid for and clothes were delivered at home. Tolstoy also wanted to show support for the small labels she loves to wear now, so theres also a section with exclusive discounts for Alex Gore Brownes knitwear, Pink City Prints Indian-influenced cotton pieces and O Pioneers Laura Ashley-esque dresses. Estimate: 2,000-2,500. The two are not mutually exclusive. We support credit card, debit card and PayPal payments. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. I wanted to cleanse that whole phase of my life and get back to who I really was, she says of her decision to sell off her designer wares. But an experience like that opens your mind. Offered in Alexandra Tolstoy: An Interior by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, 4-25 November, Online, If you have that rapport and that friendship, you can understand the living space, says Slowik. Alexandra's Russian heritage was also crucial for determining the schemes, and drove much of the eclectic, pattern-filled decoration. At The Tolstoy Edit, we are happy to share with you our favourite finds for the home; antiques, as well as occasional newer pieces, curated by Alexandra Tolstoy, the adventurer and writer. Stephanie Linning For Mailonline Speaking of their relationship in a documentary that aired this year, Alexandra said: 'When I met Sergei it was electric. I speak fluent Russian now, but growing up in the UK my mother is very English and we lived in the countryside I didnt feel at all Russian. I gave 5500 from the proceeds to St Gregorys Foundation, a charity that helps underprivileged children in Russia. She says that every day is difficult, and I often dont sleep at night its that philosophy of dust yourself down, and carry on trying I dont ever stop putting myself out there and trying., In the past year, Alexandras rebuilt her travel company, which she founded before the marriage, built a fashion business, which Im told is going well, and been writing for lots of magazines; shes even made amicable progress with the Russian state, and has since returned without threat But it seems to me that her greatest solace in the idyll shes struggled to provide for her children: theyve got this big pond, and a rowing boat, and a little caravan, and a wigwam, and is rescued by the stillness of the country. The pair soon enlisted Burns help. Talking about her pursuit of an exquisitely domestic lifestyle, Alexandra says that its not just aesthetic, it does also go with a kind of freedom of thought, doesnt it? She changed my life. I lived with a Russian family in Moscow the father was an actor. Of course, Id never even set foot in a Chanel shop before, so it was exciting. Back in Russia after that Paris sojourn, we went to the opera in St Petersburg, it was all these oligarchs and their wives. Later, while living and working in Moscow, she met Sergei Pugachev, with whom she would have three children. When he fled to France in 2015, I ultimately felt such relief. I love this because its on a grand scale but informal and pretty too - I chose antiques that work in modern as well as traditional interiors, and this is a prime example. Selling her designer clothes and handbags allowed her to start again, and to be herself. As the eldest of author and historian Count Nikolai Tolstoy and his wife Georginas four children, her childhood in the countryside was as wholesome, homespun and Mitfordian U as they come. Within a year of meeting, they had a baby and another on the way, and were living a life of luxury in London, Moscow and Paris. Privacy Policy, Three North European decorated and painted lidded jars, mid-19th century, Alexandra Tolstoy: An Interior by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, A set of 12 hand-coloured engravings of botanical specimens, 19th century, now offering some of its contents for sale at Christies, George Smart, A pair of Regency cut-felt collage pictures of, a trio of decorated and painted lidded jars, a mid-20th-century English oak and brass desk, A Russian painted pine model of the Trinity Monastry of St. Sergius, c. 1900. cookies 797 following. Leo Tolstoy with his daughter Alexandra Lvovna Tolstaya But even more interesting to me is the life of his youngest surviving daughter Alexandra Tolstaya (1884-1979). personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to In the autumn, she held a sale at her house and gave proceeds to a charity which supports underprivileged children and adults with autism living in St. Petersburg, who she says are completely unsupported by the state. [7] She worked as a lecturer on Tolstoy and as a Russian teacher,[6] and was supported by Japanese literary and academic circles. Sign up for the latest news, offers and styles, Use left/right arrows to navigate the slideshow or swipe left/right if using a mobile device, The Tolstoy Edit x SJ Axelby Interior Portraits, choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Premium access for businesses and educational institutions. I say how I find so much more satisfaction in accumulating individuals pieces and creating ones own eclectic aesthetic, which she certainly concurs: I totally agree! FILTER Showing 23 products Cashmere Folk Fair Isle Jumper 495 259 I did really lose myself in that period and Ive started dressing in a way that just wasnt me. I felt it was quite symbolic, it was out of Russia that this crazy life had happened and now I was giving something back which felt good., But shes honest that its as much for her own familys welfare that shes doing it, too. I went into this whole other world. Maybe my father could live without church and without God, but we weaker people need something to support us. Xander Haveron-Jones talks with Countess Alexandra on cultivating an aesthetic, the liberation of stylistic reinvention, and her infamous billionaire marriage. In 2015, the Russians pursued Pugachev in the British courts to reclaim the missing $1 billion, for which he was found liable, and his passport was seized and his assets worldwide were frozen: he fled illegally to France, for which he was sentenced to two years imprisonment in the UK meaning he couldnt return to be with Alexandra and the children. The interior and collection speaks not only of her love of the traditional English country house, but also of her Russian family heritage, innate personal sense of style and a strong desire to create a special home for her children. They were symbols of a bad time so it doesnt matter.. You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. I have great synergy with Emma so as a three we were prefect. Check out our alexandra tolstoy selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Its a very visually stimulating religion., A Russian painted pine model of the Trinity Monastry of St. Sergius, c. 1900. Influenced by Alexandra's Russian heritage and many years of travel on horse across Central Asia, The Tolstoy Edit embraces folk traditions and craftsmanship with their love of colour, pattern and texture. Wed been educated in very different ways. My mother was amazing, she made me all these Laura Ashley things which were very special and my aunts knitted Fair Isle jumpers. It is not dated and is a little unusual and quirky with the beaded detail. Once old enough to do his bidding, she served as the right hand of her father, adoring him and making the logistics of his life work. The sale runs until November 25 on christies.com. "Decorative, colourful, comfortable, quirky, full of pattern and informal," is how Daniel describes the aesthetic. ", The house, though small, was designed to work well for entertaining, but also as a space where Alexandra's children could play and be comfortable. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF. By 2015, he was dividing his time between France and the family home in London and reputed to be number 3 on Kremlin's hitlist. Its the reason shes been selling off many of the fashion relics of her old life, first with a sale at her Chelsea home, and now with a newly launched website where her own cast-offs will be sold alongside those of other stylish women including stylist Martha Ward and creative director and store owner, Alex Eagle. Alexandra Tolstoy and "Lucky Diamond" arrives at the fourth annual Paws for Style fundraiser hosted by Animal Fair Magazine May 1, 2003 in New York. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. offers FT membership to read for free. With Sergei, I lived in this new Russian way but I hated it. Tolstoy will donate 20% of the proceeds from her sales to St Gregorys, a charity which helps poor families in St Petersburg. I was always scouring around. Images from the time show her looking the bohemian ideal, wearing romantic blouses whilst leading horseback tours through the wilderness. He claims he is being targeted because of his knowledge of state secrets. By 2015, he was dividing his time between France and the family home in London and claimed to be number 3 on Kremlin's hitlist. One womans confidence-shaking luxury purchases are anothers treasure. Being in that landscape makes your senses alert. However, after allowing White Russians to meet in her Moscow home, she was arrested five times by the Bolsheviks and in 1920 was sent to prison for a year. 2023 - All Rights Reserved In Once Long Ago, Jenny Robinson invites us to Sonnet for Foxe by Anna Cowan and Ruth Port, Backstage interview: the creatives behind Bare, Oxford, the 15-Minute City, and the Birth of a Lie, NUS referendum voting underway as campaigning intensifies, A varsity society match like no other; an ACS affair. Tolstoy was educated at Downe House, [2] and then studied for a Master of Arts degree in Russian at the University of Edinburgh, during the course of which she spent a year in Russia. The pair met whilst travelling along the Silk Road on horse in 1999. It was definitely not an extravagant mentality, she says. I led them, with Shamil, from Bukhara to Samarkand, and it was a success. Influenced by Alexandra's Russian heritage and many years of travel on horse across Central Asia, The Tolstoy Edit embraces folk traditions and craftsmanship with their love of colour, pattern and texture. Search instead in. Throughout my life, all the bad things that have happened have spurred me on. Please, She married an Uzbek horseman and rode the length of the Silk Road; lived the oligarch lifestyle with Putins banker; and now leads intrepid group tours of the Stans, A Kyrgyz camp in Naryn region, Kyrgyzstan, Yasnaya Polyana, Leo Tolstoys former redoubt. If I look at my children, theyre incredibly curious about a lot of things Im not sure their peers would be curious about my oldest son is obsessed with carnivorous plants, and the middle one is making things all the time I think that, somehow, that aesthetic they sort of go hand-in-hand. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. But the eventual dramatic unravelling of their liaison was laid bare in a documentary which aired last week on BBC, The Countess and the Russian billionaire. Alexandra Tolstoy's fairytale Oxfordshire cottage The owner of this Oxfordshire cottage was determined to stay true to its roots, and, with the help of her designer, has created a traditional interior that incorporates and complements her collection of antiques 1 July 2021 Follow. Her life with Pugachev took her away from all that, and transported her into a life where designer trainers were in, collections of Chanel handbags were vast and vintage market buys were out. The self-described "Anglo-Russian adventurer" has travelled by horse and camel (yes, you read that right) for nine months on the Silk Road across central Asia to China, hosted a BBC TV . Shortly before her birth, Leo had almost stopped writing novels . She pairs this with other traditional Russian symbols such as matryoshkas, or Russian dolls, which represent motherhood and. Among the treasures coming to auction are an impressive group of botanical prints (above) sourced by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, and a pair of George Smart felt pictures (below) from around 1820 that once hung in the childrens bedroom. Premium Digital includes access to our premier business column, Lex, as well as 15 curated newsletters covering key business themes with original, in-depth reporting. It was shocking how he had absolutely no clue about finances, about running a company; it was shocking basic accounting, he didnt even understand. Anne-Jessica Faure, a lawyer for Mr Pugachev, said there has been no court decision establishing financial wrongdoing by him. It is true that every book changes you. A set of 12 hand-coloured engravings of botanical specimens, 19th century. Shes a pin-up for authentic prairie chic. Image courtesy of Christies, Tolstoys happy working relationship with Slowik dates back more than a decade. It was the love story of my life, and it did feel dangerous he was this very powerful person, and he did turn on me sometimes in the early days, but there was this drama of winning him back round; I didnt realise that this was all very dangerous abusive pattern., Alexandra believes Sergei spun a false narrative to malign her and distract from his own culpability for the disastrous failure of his business interests; particularly, Sergei blames his downfall on the fact that Putin supposedly disliked his marriage to a foreigner, which she frustratedly contests: Its a very narcissistic thing to do; he made up this whole narrative [in the documentary] which suited its all about belittling me, and by saying that particularly to his close family it gave them a narrative that it was my fault that everything had gone wrong for him; he blamed it on me, saying that Putin didnt like me. Wardrobes full of couture, endless priceless jewels and never-ending shopping trips. Now I embrace embroidery, vintage Fair Isle knitwear from eBay and clothes by the Russian designer Russmotive, which reprints old fabric designs. But really shes happiest in clothes which reflect her passion for tradition, craft and travel, mixing Hungarian textiles repurposed by Eponine London with Romanian shawls found on Etsy and Broras British knitwear. Our relationship was wonderful when we were in the wilds, but in the city it was just awful and unhappy. I felt like Bridget Jones, so awkward. It felt great to be giving something back to Russia and also like I was shedding a skin and really embarking back on my old and true path through life.. Pugachev fled to France before the 2016 High Court ruling in a case brought by Russias Deposit Insurance Agency, in which he was sentenced for 12 breaches of court orders connected to a freezing order imposed on him over attempts to recover the cash. He appointed her as executor of his will, a task she had to undertake in 1910. Enjoy browsing and do email us if you have any questions! He has previously been declared to be in contempt of court, with a two-year prison sentence left hanging over his head should he return to this country. [4], In 1921 she became the director of the Tolstoy museum at Yasnaya Polyana. Now, I can be creative in a totally different way., Alexandra Tolstoy: An Interior by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler runs 4-25 November, Online, Get the best stories from Christies.com in a weekly email, *We will never sell or rent your information. After arriving in the UK in 2011, he was accused of siphoning a fortune out of his finance house Mezhprombank. analyse how our Sites are used. A total of 130 items once displayed in the home, including a Scottish Regency bookcase, carved alabaster models and mid-20th century artwork will be auctioned at Christie's. Among Alexandra's favourite pieces are a pair of white upholstered sofas by Katherine Pooley, which are expected to fetch between4,000-6,000, and two pairs of 20th century Indian palace paintings which are expected to fetch1,000-2,000 a pair. Amid it all she has continued to build her collection of vintage pieces from all corners of the globe. She died in 1979, at age 96, and was laid to rest in the Russian cemetery of Spring Valley, New York, USA. Energetic all her life, with a remarkable calmness of spirit, Alexandra Tolstoy lived at the TF Center in Valley Cottage, New York. He was in a public dispute with Vladimir Putin, so it was dangerous for us to visit Russia for a long time. She has also added a section dedicated to her favourite brands - including Pink City Prints, Pioneers and Alex Gore Browne - offering discounts on each with a special code. Isle knitwear from eBay and clothes by the Russian designer Russmotive, which reprints old fabric designs claims! 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