The industry is completely different now. The two are not mutually exclusive. Offered in Alexandra Tolstoy: An Interior by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, 4-25 November, Online. I thought Id just sell a few things but it went quite viral. 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. analyse how our Sites are used. The pair met whilst travelling along the Silk Road on horse in 1999. Its complete freedom. Follow. The oligarch fled to France, where he remains, and was sentenced to two years in his absence by a High Court judge in 2016 for breaching court orders relating to hundreds of millions in allegedly stolen cash. I never failed to fill one. [4] Although Alexandra shared her father's belief in non-violence, she felt it was her duty to take part in the events of the First World War and served as a nurse on the Turkish and German fronts. The house, which was formed from two artists' studios, was decorated with the help of Daniel Slowik and Emma Burns at Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, and was a treasure trove of interesting objects and characterful design. He was in a public dispute with Vladimir Putin, so it was dangerous for us to visit Russia for a long time. An eclectic selection of furniture and objets dart will also be offered everything from a trio of decorated and painted lidded jars from the mid-19th century to a mid-20th-century English oak and brass desk. Alexandra also worked with Emma on her home in Moscow. Discover Alexandra Tolstoy's favourite pieces and collaboration designs. 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. 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. She could choose whatever she wanted. Until then, dressing up for Tolstoy had been more about style and craftsmanship than touring designer boutiques. But its absurd Putin just wouldnt care about that. Having once enjoyed an intensely close friendship, even spending many holidays together, by the time Alexandra met Sergei, he had only seen Putin once, in all those years., Alexandra asks if Ive watched Dirty John on Netflix, and compares theirs to the romance underpinned by the manipulation of the sociopathic significant other: I just find the psychology of being a sociopath or narcissism so fascinating; this creating of narratives that are literally just complete lies, but I think they end up half-believing them She later asks if Ive read And Quiet Flows the Don, saying that the relationship at the beginning is very, very similar; it just feels so full of danger and its very raw, and often angry, but then very passionate to me, it felt really like I was so in love. Reflecting on their marriage, and his moments of physical violence and control over her, she says that there were signs there, but she just didnt know how to read or understand them., I think the real truth was that, yes, he wasnt bowing down to Putin, but he also had a business partner who he was very close to for years, and that business partner left [and it was at this point that Sergei began having business difficulties]; Sergei himself was no kind of businessman. offers FT membership to read for free. Its so original and different. In the chaos, she even lost jewellery shed been planning to sell. We had an oligarchic lifestyle, and even had a suite on standby at Claridges. It was lecturing about this trip at the Royal Geographical Society in London that first got me into leading tours. and other data for a number of reasons, such as keeping FT Sites reliable and secure, 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! After arriving in the UK in 2011, he was accused of siphoning a fortune out of his finance house Mezhprombank. Showing Editorial results for alexandra tolstoy. Tolstoy has also partnered with Ampersand Travel to curate boutique tours of Russia, and garnered a loyal following across her trio of Instagram accounts. It is also incredibly practical - it doesnt slip on the wooden floor and my children played on it everyday! Offered in Alexandra Tolstoy: An Interior by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, 4-25 November, Online, One of her favourite pieces to be offered at Christies is a 20th-century North American rag rug. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Wed been educated in very different ways. 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. I think its very important that your house reflects who you are., The Drawing Room at Glebe Place, with interior created by Alexandra Tolstoy and Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler. Sergei, who left Russia in 2011, claims that after relations between him and Putin cooled, the Kremlin tried to seize or destroy his business empire. Mr Pugachev denies the allegations and claims Moscow is trying to steal 11billion of his assets, including two shipyards and the world's largest mine. Authorities froze his assets, put him on Interpol's wanted list and obtained a court order in Britain forcing him to hand over his passports. They were symbols of a bad time so it doesnt matter.. [7], In 1931 she left Japan and settled in the United States, where she gave lectures and worked as a chicken farmer. For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the Settings & Account section. She spent her gap year in Russia. 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. I thought I had to be someone else, I thought I had to be like those girls. Those Monaco wedding couture commissions and a tweed Chanel cardigan (they did a Scottish collection which is the kind of thing I love because its all about the countryside, so Ive kept that). But it wasnt really me. ", "The paintings of Indian palaces. I lost myself, I lost my confidence. Tolstoys future might be uncertain but whatever it brings, shes bound to do it in her own inimitable style. But I will never go to France. Everything was paid for and clothes were delivered at home. She organises adventurous horse riding holidays in Kyrgyzstan, and runs The Tolstoy Edit, a curated shop of her favourite interiors discoveries. Tolstaya became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1941, abandoning the use of the title of countess. They had three children together - Alexei, known as Aliosha, Ivan and Maria. Anne-Jessica Faure, a lawyer for Mr Pugachev, said there has been no court decision establishing financial wrongdoing by him. It was shocking how he had absolutely no clue about finances, about running a company; it was shocking basic accounting, he didnt even understand. Tolstoy is alluding to the discomfort which these indulgences eventually came to signify for her, leading her away from her instinctive style and appreciation for tradition towards a struggle to fit in and conform to being the sort of woman Pugachev and his circle expected. | Our privacy policy, Website design and operation by Nelson Fernandes Serrao. A year later, they met again at an awards ceremony attended by the Russian president. The industry is completely different now. I met the father of my three children, Sergei Pugachev, a banker formerly in Putins inner circle, in 2009. Alexandra Tolstoy was the youngest daughter and 12th of 13 children of Sonya Tolstoy and Count Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoy, the celebrated Russian author. Sunday February 09 2020, 12.01am GMT, The Sunday Times. After the war, she worked on an edition of her father's writings. personalising content and ads, providing social media features and to Alexandra Tolstoy buying textiles in Bishkek market Tolstoy will donate 20% of the proceeds from her sales to St Gregory's, a charity which helps poor families in St Petersburg. The next year, I took a trip to Kyrgyzstan, which is better suited to riding because its mountainous and beautiful, and the horses are wonderful. You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. 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. Wardrobes full of couture, endless priceless jewels and never-ending shopping trips. university Were still in touch now. I did really lose myself in that period and Ive started dressing in a way that just wasnt me. When do the clocks change in 2023? I've never felt such a connection to someone ever.'. Shes a pin-up for authentic prairie chic. She had - still has - the English Rose looks to match; subtly tanned from hours of outdoor pursuits, rosy cheeks and often wearing her blonde hair in Heidi plaits or tied up with a scarf. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Her 1999 trek along the Silk Road by horse and camel is perhaps the most documented. Biographies of Teymuraz K. Bagration :::: Tatiana Schaufuss. Speaking of their relationship in a documentary that aired this year, Alexandra said: 'When I met Sergei it was electric. I went on to take groups every year between 2002 and 2009, and was leading a tour the week before my wedding. 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. Check if your Clothing: Ring Smart Home Security Systems eero WiFi Stream 4K Video in Every Room: Blink Smart Security for Every Home Neighbors App Real-Time Crime & Safety Alerts A set of 12 hand-coloured engravings of botanical specimens, 19th century. Now, Alexandra has reclaimed her creative autonomy and a certain intellectual freedom which was repressed during her years spent with the billionaire: We all have different tastes, but if our taste isnt reflecting who we are or where we are in life, that lack of harmony can make you feel not very happy. Her Instagram page has allowed her to present her own image to the world, one which she finds to be truly representative, unlike that of the media which is seemingly always speculating. I just get on and do things; I cant sit around doing nothing. She was born in Poole, Dorset. If youd like to retain your premium access and save 20%, you can opt to pay annually at the end of the trial. I went to Yasnaya Polyana (which means clear glade) Tolstoys former home, which is 125 miles south of Moscow. Later, while living and working in Moscow, she met Sergei Pugachev, with whom she would have three children. 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 Simon Brown 3/8 Registered in England No. I gave 5500 from the proceeds to St Gregorys Foundation, a charity that helps underprivileged children in Russia. Its the kind of fashion scenario dreams are made of, isnt it? 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. Other pieces currently available on the site include an Oscar de la Renta scallop-edged dress (200), a tweed Celine mini dress (390) and Alaa wool dress (450). She was active as the Foundation's President and served as a fundraiser, a lecturer, and a writer until l976. 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. It is true that every book changes you. Theres nothing phoney about it I keep it authentic. Since splitting from Pugachev, Tolstoy has been rediscovering not only her sense of adventure, but her true style. I think its difficult for anybody in those circumstances to be creative; how can you be original? Countess Alexandra Tolstoy was known for her remarkable calmness and dignity. Alexandra Tolstoy, Sigrid Kirk and Isabella Macpherson attend the Molly Goddard presentation during London Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016 at the BFC. When I came back, I switched my university course from philosophy to Russian at Edinburgh. We use 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. 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. 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 house, though small, was designed to work well for entertaining, but also as a space where Alexandra's children could play and be comfortable. Countess Alexandra Tolstoy whose oligarch ex was known as 'Putin's banker' auctions off 250,000 of antiques that decorated her 12million London home before she was evicted after he fell foul. Its the colours, the texture, the natural ageing of it, she enthuses. A highlight is a 19th-century Russian painted pine model, below, of the Trinity Monastery of St. Sergius outside Moscow. Though Alexandra Tolstoy hadn't her own family she had many relatives in Sweden, France, Soviet Russia and in the United States. He claims he is being targeted because of his knowledge of state secrets. Ive entertained in this house a lot, Tolstoy tells Christies during our video shoot at Glebe Place earlier in the year. The first time I went to Russia was in 1992, just after the Soviet Union dissolved. Were Russian Orthodox, which is why we have a lot of icons, Tolstoy explains. Alexandra Tolstoy Alexandra Tolstoy is an Anglo-Russian mother, adventurer, author and TV presenter. In 2018, I returned after eight years away. ", "The pair of white sofas with cushions. 2023 Getty Images. A superficial browse of Alexandras delightfully aesthetic Instagram page evokes the traditional rural cottage idyll; her three young children in shorts and little leather shoes reading or playing outside; carrying a roast goose to a carefully-decorated table for supper in a candle-lit dining room; nursing a cup of tea on a rocking chair beside the aga. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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. Each 18 x 14 in (47 x 35.5 cm), framed. But I like nice things and comforts, and I find nothing difficult about camping. Shortly afterwards I introduced her to Emma for decoration help with other projects globally and the relationship grew and grew. Please, The subscription details associated with this account need to be updated. He also claims 'credible attempts' had been made on his life in the UK. Selling her designer clothes and handbags allowed her to start again, and to be herself. 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. For her almost 50,000 Instagram followers (@alexandratolstoy), these memories of oligarch-style trophy buys will be impossible to conflate with the idyllic look she now encapsulates. In the propertys light, lofty rooms, vibrant contemporary pieces sit in happy juxtaposition with 19th-century works of art, fabulous curiosities and treasures from Tolstoys globetrotting adventures. Offered in Alexandra Tolstoy: An Interior by Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, 4-25 November, Online, Their bedroom was like a little world of its own, full of imagination and toys and pictures and books, she says. Sergei Pugachev once owned two major shipyards, the world's biggest mine and large chunks of real estate in Moscow and St Petersburg, as well as the Mezhprombank, which he co-founded in the 1990s. The aristocratic beauty, 46, and her three children,Alexei, Ivan and Maria, were evicted from the south London mansion during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic after reportedly being given just 12 days notice by the Russian government, who repossessed the property. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. The sale runs until November 25 on christies.com. Countess Alexandra Tolstoy is the daughter of Count Nikolai Tolstoy-Miloslavsky, the current head of the noble House of Tolstoy, distantly related to Leo Tolstoy, and the separated wife of Sergei Pugachev, a Russian oligarch who was once worth $15 billion and was amongst Putin's inner circle. Follow our Instagram@Telegraphfashion, The latest offers and discount codes from popular brands on Telegraph Voucher Codes, Alexandra Tolstoy atYasnaya Polyana, Tolstoys country estate, wearing Vika Gazinskaya, Alexandra Tolstoy wearing vintage Eponine, Alexandra Tolstoy horse riding inKyrgyzstan, Alexandra Tolstoy cooking in a whiteembroidered dress, Alexandra Tolstoy wearing a Dolce & Gabbana dress now listed for 290 on her website, Alexandra Tolstoy buying textiles in Bishkek market, Pencil skirts, high heels, sheer tights and aviators Saint Laurents new collection has them all, How the Princess of Wales makes her Zara bargains look expensive, Here's what the high street should borrow from Diors blockbuster show, If you want to update your wardrobe classics, borrow these 7 handy tips from the Italians, Damian Lewis and the formula for nailing rocker style over 50, travel business leading expeditions through the former Russian empire. It was obvious that Alexandra had a completely new life with a huge staff: cooks, nannies, drivers.