An actor-turned-sleuth has unraveled a Fabergé mystery at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, identifying two women depicted in a pair of rediscovered frames. The light purple frame features Sophia of Prussia, Queen of Greece and Queen Victoria’s granddaughter. In the smaller pink frame is Maria Perugia, not of noble birth but married to the exceedingly wealthy Leopold de Rothschild.
These ornate antiques were recently discovered in the museum’s storage in 2019 by Geoffrey Munn, a fine jewelry expert from Antiques Roadshow. Despite only a corner peeking out from tissue paper, Munn immediately recognized them as the work of Peter Carl Fabergé, the renowned jeweler to the imperial Russian court.
Geoffrey Munn’s keen eye unraveled the mystery surrounding the Fabergé frames at the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery. Within the light purple frame lies Sophia of Prussia, Queen of Greece—a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The smaller pink frame features Maria Perugia, married to the wealthy Leopold de Rothschild.
These ornate antiques, discovered in storage, were identified as Fabergé works by Munn, who previously recognized a $1.27 million Fabergé flower on Antiques Roadshow. Despite their non-functionality, these frames hold historical significance. They connect to nearby Preston Manor, once owned by Ellen Thomas-Stanford—an heiress and friend of Queen Victoria’s daughter, Princess Beatrice. The Fabergé objects may have been gifted to her, adding to their intriguing provenance.
The rediscovered Fabergé frames, believed to be worth over £1 million ($1.27 million), were covered in decades of accumulated dust, tobacco smoke, and lamp soot. After careful cleaning and conservation, the museum prepared to display them. However, the mystery of the women depicted in the frames remained unsolved.
Enter Andreane Rellou, a visitor from London during the Fabergé exhibition in 2021. Intrigued by a sign inviting help in identifying the subjects, Rellou used her expertise in historical fashion and hairstyling. She delved into debutante portraits and marriage records, ultimately unraveling the enigma behind the photographs.
Andreane Rellou’s determination paid off as she unraveled the mystery behind the women in the antique frames. Matching the woman in the pink frame to Maria Perugia took about four hours of research, while identifying the woman in the purple frame required three days of dedicated investigation.
Previously, Geoffrey Munn speculated that the woman in purple might be Princess Alice of Battenberg, Prince Philip’s mother and a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. However, Rellou’s expertise in historical fashion and hairstyling led her to the correct identification.
Despite lacking formal detective experience, Rellou’s passion for art historical research shines through. Her current project sheds light on the overlooked contributions of Marie Spartali Stillman, Aglaia Ionides Coronio, and Maria Cassavetti Zambaco—the three Anglo-Greek cousins known as “The Three Graces” in the Pre-Raphaelite movement. Her dedication to uncovering forgotten achievements is truly inspiring.
Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com
