Missing Romanov jewelry found

The jewelry was recently discovered at the Swedish foreign ministry, where it had been stored for 91 years, The Times of London reported Sunday.

An unidentified spokesman for Sotheby's auction house in London said the recovered treasures once used by Pavlovna, aunt of the Russian tsar Nicholas II, will go up for auction later this year, the Times said.

"Unknown to generations until their recent rediscovery, the objects, some of which still contain evidence of use by the Romanovs, truly evoke the grandeur and sublime taste of their original owners," the spokesman said. "The allure of this intimate and precious group, with its links to historical events, will hold the highest appeal for discerning collectors."

The jewelry was thought to have been lost during the Russian revolution against the Romanov dynasty. Reports that it had been smuggled out of Russia by a British aristocrat were unconfirmed.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.