CURATORS at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery are trying to solve an international mystery after the chance discovery of forgotten Faberge items.

In 2019, Geoffrey Munn, fine jewellery expert on the BBC1's Antiques Roadshow was visiting the Royal Pavilion and Museum Trust fashion curator, Martin Pel, when he spotted just the corner of some Faberge items wrapped up in tissue paper in the museum stores.

Despite the patina from years of tobacco smoke and lamp oil, Geoffrey knew straight away that he was looking at work produced in Russia, under the watchful eye of Carl Fabergé, the famous Imperial Court jeweller to the Tzars.

This cache of Fabergé yielded an important gold-mounted photograph frame in translucent purple enamel, important enough to imply some sort of royal, if not imperial, provenance.

Next to it was another smaller, but equally beautiful frame in rose pompadour enamel.

There were two enamelled gum pots, one with a moonstone finial and the other topped with a garnet and objet de luxe, in the form of a striking blue, stamp damper.

The five items will now be on show at the museum with a question-mark at the centre of the display.

Although both photographs show women of high status, dressed in expensive lace, furs and fine jewellery, there is no record of who they are.

However, Geoffrey Munn has an idea that one of the women might have royal connections.

He said: "The lady in the purple frame looks very like Princess Alice of Battenberg, great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, mother of the Duke of Edinburgh and mother-in-law of the Queen."

The Royal Pavilion and Museums Trust are now hoping other people can help identify the two mysterious women looking out from their exquisite Fabergé frames.

In another twist to the story, Royal Pavilion and Museum Trust curatorial staff have discovered a link to a British spy, which may explain how the items ended up in Britain.

Dame Ellen Thomas-Stanford who used to own Preston Manor, an Edwardian manor house in Brighton had a stepson Henry Vere Benett, nicknamed Croppy, who was based in St Petersburg during the Russian revolution in 1917.

During this time, he wrote to his stepmother saying he "hunted long and often in jewellers and bric a brac [shops]" to send back to her.

In such desperate times, many people sold their riches and artworks to fund their escape.

The Royal Pavillion are keen to hear from anyone who may be able to shed some light on the mystery women and how the items ended up at Preston Manor.

Curator Martin Pel said: "These are beautiful items which we'd like to know more about.

"It would be fantastic if anyone could help us uncover more about them.

"If you have information contact info@rpmt.org.uk or call 03000 290906."

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