Polychrome and gilded bust-length figurehead from the wooden brig 'Alessandro il Grande' of Venice (an Austrian city at the time it was probably made). It is a portrait of Tsar Alexander I of Russia (reigned 1801–25) shown in black military dress, with epaulettes, decorations and a red sash. While sheltering in St Mary’s Roads on New Year’s Day, 1851, her anchor cables parted and she was driven onto the Mare Ledges off the south of Tresco at 10 p.m. She was a total loss, although there was an opportunity to recover the ship’s stores and there were no casualties.

‘Alessandro Il Grande’ details at time of wreck. Wooden barque of 289 tons, registered in Venice. Builder: not known, and date only presumed to be 1801–25 if contemporary with Alexander's reign. Dimensions (in feet and tenths): not known. Owner: not known. Registered voyage: Galway to Cardiff. Cargo: in ballast. Master at loss: Santo Amadeo Gavaquin. Wrecked: 1 January 1851.