Our competitor to the Louvre or how to find masterpieces in the Hermitage. Diamond Storeroom: schedule and excursions Hermitage decorations
The Golden Pantry is one of two exhibitions in the Jewelry Gallery in State Hermitage. It includes several collections of gold items from the 7th to the 19th centuries. Among them are the Siberian collection of Peter I, objects of Hellenic art, as well as creations of oriental masters.
Siberian collection of Peter I
The Golden Treasury includes several valuable collections, among which the central place is rightfully occupied by specimens collected by Peter I. They will be of particular interest to connoisseurs jewelry art, as well as those who want to get acquainted with its history.
In the 18th century, by order of the Tsar, excavations began in Siberia. Their goal was to replenish the state treasury and study ancient history Russian lands. The subject of excavations were Tatar graves called mounds. The burials of noble persons were especially valuable. According to religious custom, a lot of gold and jewelry were placed in the grave of the tribal nobility.
The excavations were led by the governor of the Siberian region, Prince Matvey Gagarin. He was a confidant of Peter I and bought the best copies for him. But the prince turned out to be dishonest and was hanged.
Thanks to the insight of Peter I and his desire to study the history of his native lands, a decree was issued to stop the destruction and plunder of graves. This was the first prerequisite for the creation of laws on the protection historical monuments. Since then, the sovereign personally purchased the found valuables.
All exhibits were sent to the Summer Palace. By 1714, the collection already included about 240 items. Especially for her, Tsar Peter opened the first museum in Russian history and called it the Kunstkamera, which translated meant “cabinet of curiosities.” Now the gallery is called the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnography. Peter the Great of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Even after the death of the king, the collection continued to be replenished by his followers. A century and a half later, in 1859, by order of Alexander II, the unique exhibits were moved to the Winter Palace and were named the Siberian Collection of Peter I.
Features and symbolism of the exhibits
Among the specimens are jewelry, weapons, ceremonial equipment for horses and ritual equipment. Most of them are decorated with animal motifs. This is due to the religious beliefs of ancient tribes - the image of an animal’s head served as protection from evil forces. Also often encountered is the plot of a struggle between man and beast, symbolizing strength.
The ideas of nomadic peoples about the world are also reflected on jewelry. Birds were a symbol of the upper heavenly part of the universe. People and animals (ungulates were most often depicted) were representatives of the average mortal world. Waterfowl and fish from the lower world reflected death and the birth of new life in one person. This is clearly visible in the scenes of the struggle between an animal and a predator - the middle and lower world.
Masters loved to decorate their creations with precious stones. Sometimes there are glass or coral inserts. Agate or carnelian were used less frequently.
Many finds served as objects for rituals and were guardians of the magical power in which the nomads believed. Today, with their help, we can have an idea of the worldview and life of the ancient Scythians.
Jewelry art of Ancient Greece
In the golden storeroom you can see precious exhibits of Ancient Greece. Its inhabitants were special admirers of gold, and endowed it with magical powers capable of protecting its owners during life and after death. That is why all jewelry was buried with the deceased. The Hellenes did not know the limits in the number of decorations. Therefore, a law came into force to limit this addiction.
The Greeks were talented craftsmen and knew how to make the finest patterns from gold threads. They always used small parts. Most often found on products floral pattern in the form of interlacing leaves and flowers. The clothes of the ancient Greeks were also decorated with gold threads.
Women and men wore gold equally. In addition to jewelry, they used gold accessories. These were a variety of fans and wands. The imagination of Hellenic jewelers knew no bounds and was reflected in bizarre shapes and patterns.
Among women's jewelry, hair items were very popular. These were tiaras, stilettos and nets. For the wedding, the bride's head was decorated with a crown with a leafy pattern and an image of the goddess Nike.
Manufacturing technologies
Most products were forged from a single piece of metal. Stamps were used to give the desired shape. Carving or engraving techniques were used to achieve graceful lines and fine details. The chains were woven from thin wire.
To connect several large parts, diffusion soldering, popular at the time, was used, fusing parts together at high temperatures. The result was the characteristic graining revered by the Greeks. Hellenic jewelry art was influenced by many countries. This was reflected in the style of the products and their subjects.
Oriental collection of gold items
Lovers of oriental motifs will not leave indifferent the jewelry collection of the Ancient East. The diversity of peoples who inhabited the Middle East and Asia gave rise to a huge number of styles and technologies for making precious jewelry and household items. But they all have common features inspired by the single Islamic religion.
As in European countries, in the East, gold products were endowed with magical properties and decorated with stones. These were ruby, turquoise, coral and amber. The products were also decorated with colored enamel of red and blue. The first symbolized life, and the second - sky and water. Other colors were also popular - green, yellow and black.
The shape of the object was of particular importance. The circle represented the sun, the figure of the animal was a symbol of fertility. Many items were decorated with the image of an eye. This symbol was supposed to protect the owner from curses and evil eyes. “Hamsa” - a palm with a blue stone in the center - had the same property.
The bird in the East was considered a sacred creature and was equated with a deity. Her image was inseparably associated with fertility and power. The Iranian-Turkic peoples decorated household items and jewelry with the image of the bird woman Umai (mother goddess).
Middle Eastern countries used images of fish and heavenly bodies. The famous symbol of Islam - a crescent with a star, came from paganism. It belonged to the goddess Hecate and symbolized fertility.
Decoration of decorations different nations differed in some ways. North Africa is characterized by its large size and clear geometric shape. Moroccan masters, on the contrary, sought to create bizarre figures and patterns. In the Maghreb, filigree, inlay and coloring with colored enamel were widely used. Egypt was famous for its worship of the sun, the symbol of which was present on most products.
Visitors to the Golden Pantry will discover the secrets of jewelry art that dates back to ancient times. Get ready to appreciate the creations of ancient masters who invested magical power in every detail of their work.
I go on subscription excursions to the Golden Pantry in the Hermitage. There are only three excursions on Saturdays. The exhibition in the Golden Pantry is arranged chronologically - immediately from the entrance there is a room-corridor, on the right is the Siberian collection of Peter I ( Southern Siberia), on the left are golden exhibits from mounds, starting with the most ancient ones (from the 7th century BC). Litoy mound, Kelermes mounds. First big hall- Royal Scythians - Solokha, Chertomlyk. Sarmaty.
I didn’t set out to retell it - I specifically added many links to sources where you can read or watch the history of the Scythians and their art. I just go for my own pleasure to look at all this beauty in detail and listen to the exhibits themselves. Once again I am surprised by the level of skill of jewelers who create masterpieces in order to immediately bury them in the ground)) The beauty of the symbolism, which speaks of a single worldview that reigned for many centuries over a large territory)) In a word, once again I am following the lead own current mood and questions. Therefore, today there are no swords and gorites - the main exhibits of the warlike Scythian world. Terribly cruel and terrible) barbarians...
Panther curled into a ring. The idea of the eternal movement of the universe. Siberian collection
This symbol has a lot in common with Ouroboro. Ouroboros (translated from ancient Greek = tail - food - a coiled snake biting its own tail. One of ancient symbols with many meanings. Eternity and infinity, especially the cyclical nature of life: alternation of creation and destruction, life and death, constant rebirth and death. The symbol has been used in religion, magic, alchemy, mythology and psychology. Another of its analogues is the swastika, which also means the movement of space.
It is believed that in Western culture it came from Egypt, where the first images of coiled snakes date back to between 1600 and 1100 BC, where they represented eternity and the universe, as well as the cycle of death and rebirth. From there ouroboros migrated to Ancient Greece, where it began to be used to denote processes that have no beginning and end)) Its close analogues are also found in the cultures of Scandinavia, India, China and Greece. The symbol of a coiled snake is found among the Aztecs.
Also, this symbol plays a big role in the teachings of the Gnostics, among alchemists it symbolizes the transformation of elements into the philosopher's stone to transform metals into gold. In Jung's analytical asychology, o symbolizes darkness and self-destruction at the same time as fertility and creative potency. Erich Neumann, a follower of Jung, identifies ouroboros as an early stage of personality development.
D. Bopri, describing the appearance of images of ouroboros in Ancient Egypt, claims that this symbol was painted on the walls of tombs and denoted the guardian of the underworld, as well as the threshold moment between death and rebirth. The first appearance of the ouroboros sign in Ancient Egypt dates back to around 1600 BC. e. (according to other sources - 1100
R. Robertson and A. Cribs note in Ancient China the uroboron was called “Zhulong"and was depicted as a creature combining a pig and a dragon, biting its own tail. Over time, the image transformed into the traditional Chinese dragon, symbolizing good luck. Some of the first mentions of the ouroboros as a symbol date back to 4200 BC. The first finds of figurines of dragons curled into a ring are attributed to the Hongshan culture. (4700-2900 BC). One of them, in the shape of a full circle, was located on the chest of the deceased. This is an excerpt from Wikipedia, there is much more to come)) I wrote about the Chinese symbol
On the legs and tail of the panther, the symbol of a panther curled up in a ring is repeated many times, reinforcing the symbol of the panther from here Kelermes Mound
You are not allowed to take photographs in the Golden Pantry, which is a shame, so I took the photographs from the Hermitage website.
The decoration is on fire. "Kostroma deer" - a deer with legs tucked (beaks) from a mound near the village of Kostroma. Previously, he was interpreted as a running deer, now as a victim.
The body of a deer is a symbolic zoomorphic image of the world model, close to the image of the World Tree. In the Scythian tradition, a deer (or other herbivore) was usually depicted lying with its legs tucked under itself, which symbolized in the world model the main cosmogonic processes - the dynamics of the top (life), with the static nature of the bottom (death). Sometimes the body of the herbivore was depicted twisted, while the same phases were preserved: the front part of the animal - life (summer); back - death (winter)
For many centuries, the main dynamic plot of the animal style remained the scene of the torment of a herbivore by a predator. In the opposition of these two types of animals and the violence of one over the other, a number of basic cosmogonic mythologemes of the Scythian consciousness are manifested. In sacred scenes of torment, two worlds converge - the predator, as the personification of the chthonic power of death, the underworld, darkness, and the herbivore, as an image of the power of life, the World Tree, light. The symbolism of torment in a certain context develops into a scene of an erotic act. In this situation, the predator personifies the masculine principle of the world - “top”, the Father-sky, and the herbivore - the feminine principle, the earth, its maternal, generative function.
The ancients believed that every death causes a new birth, fertilizing it. The image of a predator was ideologically associated with the Scythian akinak sword, which introduced into its symbolism the bloody color of inseminating death, without which it would be impossible to give birth new life. In fact, this ideology is familiar to all peoples in traditional initiation rites. That is why the Scythian sword - akinak - in the structure of Scythian stone sculptures was identified with the phallus, symbolizing the sexual, generative power of a man - the head of a clan and a warrior. The tormenting of a herbivore by a predator is both an act of cosmic sacrifice and an act of the initial generation of the cosmos from chaos and, in fact, an image of the Sacred Marriage, through which Mother Earth gives birth to new life, the young energy of the world. This is also where the rigid canonization of figurative signification comes from, which prescribes to consciousness ancient man a certain sacred interpretation, adequate to the mythological idea.
The multi-turn hryvnia is a symbol of nobility. Siberian collection of Peter I
Diadem, Litoy mound, Melgunovsky treasure. 3 braided chain cords, although there are holes for 4.
Plaque in the form of a bird of prey, Litoy mound. There were 17 such round golden eagles in total, but 16 eagles were transferred to the Kharkov Museum, where they died during the evacuation. Most likely the decoration is a leather belt.
The mirror from the Kelermes burial mound was probably also used for its intended purpose, but it had magical properties. On one side there is an edge, on the other there is a loop or a small handle in the center. Main character the mirrors in the upper left segment are the Asia Minor goddess Cybele, here identical to the Scythian goddess of fertility Argimpasa. Many peoples associated the mirror with the sun, fertility and life. It reflected the existing, guessed the past, foresaw the future. The magical properties of the mirror were enhanced by the images printed on its back. It was believed that mirrors had protective powers; they saw the true essence of evil demons when they took on a different guise. All family members had mirrors; they served during life and after death. Throughout their lives, many rituals were performed with them; they played a large role during the wedding ceremony. From here
Plaque from the Kul-Oba mound with the image of a goddess with a mirror
Cauldron from the Kelermes burial mounds.
Animal meat was cooked in large bronze cauldrons. Such a cauldron on a leg stands firmly in the fire. Gathering around him with a large family, a tribe, the Scythians felt their unity. Any cauldron had a sacred character and was reminiscent of the cauldron that the legendary king Ariant made from arrowheads brought by each Scythian
Comb from a male burial, Solokha mound. Symbolizes the three-part division of the world, the battle scene - a warrior who has lost his horse is doomed. The almost round sculpture is a detailed relief on both sides.
Horse forehead and bridle decorations. Great Tsymbalka mound. Horse harnesses throughout the Scythian world were the same, differing only in decoration. Here is an image of the Scythian snake-legged goddess
At various periods Scythian art was influenced by other cultures. After the defeat of Assyria in the 7th century, for example, the Scythians took Assyrian jewelers with them. Later, Scythian-Greek art reigned in the Northern Black Sea region. Greek jewelers, creating jewelry for the Scythians, use Scythian mythology and epic. The center of trade relations between the Greeks and Scythians was in the Kamensky settlement, which appeared in the 5th century BC (not far from modern Nikopol). The settlement was a metallurgical center that supplied the Scythians with weapons. There, apparently, were the residences of the Scythian kings, whose wealth and power are evidenced by the famous royal mounds of the 5th-4th centuries BC.
Earring with a pendant in the shape of a black man's head. Chertomlyk
In this documentary "Scythians" there is an interesting interpretation of the images of Scythian art from the point of view of mythology
Ghosts of distant eras. Khakass-Minusinsk basin. Siberian Scythians
The Hermitage is state museum, which many experts and visitors call nothing less than the Crown of Russian museum decoration. Its halls are decorated with many unique works of art.
But this is not the only place where connoisseurs of beauty strive to come when they come to the Hermitage. The gold and diamond storeroom literally outshines everything in the other rooms. After all, these departments contain the most valuable treasures. But what especially strikes the imagination of the common man is the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage. This will be discussed in this article.
Story
When the Hermitage was founded, no one raised the question of the ownership of the treasures in it. Of course, the Russian autocrats were the owners and collectors of all valuables. But the situation gradually changed. And already Nicholas I began to distinguish between works, distinguishing between them “personal” and “state”. During the reign of this king, the Hermitage received visitors who were supposed to see the luxury and beauty of all the things presented in the exhibition. When did the Diamond Storeroom appear, its appearance is quite logical. After all, all existing imperial regalia, as well as crown diamonds, had to be stored somewhere. At the same time, they had to be kept in such a way as to guarantee their integrity and avoid any accidents.
In order to store the imperial regalia, crown diamonds, as well as valuable jewelry and fur items, Nicholas I created a special structure. He called it the Cameral Department of the H.I.V. Cabinet.
Of course, all these valuable items were under constant supervision until the 19th century. The history of the Cabinet created by Nicholas I dates back to 1704. Initially, such a structure was involved in managing the economic, administrative, and financial affairs of the ruling emperors. It was created according to what was published by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Until the end of the 18th century, such an Cabinet was responsible for storing all the imperial regalia, as well as the crown diamonds. But some changes to such activities were made on July 16, 1786. Then, by decree of Catherine II, the work of the Cabinet was clearly defined. In one of the paragraphs of this document, a description was given of some provisions directly related to the storage of sovereign valuables, which were jewelry.
By the end of the 19th century, a conditional division appeared Winter Palace. It was believed that there were several zones in it. They included living quarters, as well as rooms reserved for those close to the emperor. There was also a special zone in the Winter Palace. It was a room in which there were artistic values belonging to the royal family. This zone was called the Imperial New Hermitage. Items that were previously in the Kunstkamera and the Moscow Armory were stored here. Works of art from the Old Hermitage were also moved here.
In December 1856, a unique collection of exhibits was officially opened to the public. The room in which they were located became known as the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage. Initially, one hundred and sixty-five things were placed in it.
Collection of jewelry creations
What does the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage contain today? It contains many things that show museum visitors the gradual development of jewelry, which has been improved throughout the centuries-old history of mankind. But it is the 18th-century art objects that the Hermitage’s Diamond Storeroom is most proud of. It is no coincidence that exhibits made by the hands of excellent craftsmen of this era are here. After all, the 18th century is called the century of diamonds. Jewelers from Europe made all sorts of things for the most demanding customers!
These are boxes and snuff boxes, toiletries and toy boxes, fans and watches, decorations for dresses, hats and hair. Among these items are perfume bottles, bracelets and rings.
Precious snuff boxes
The Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage presents visitors with a large number of items. Many of them were purchased by Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. For example, on her orders, various snuff boxes were purchased. Such a thing is difficult to find today. And in those distant times, these were special boxes designed for storing tobacco. What ended up in the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage was at one time a precious reward to the Empress for her services.
Snuff boxes made by jewelers were used as diplomatic and intimate gifts. This unique pantry also contains an oval box decorated with the monograms of Catherine II and Semyon Zorich (one of her many favorites). Also kept in the Hermitage are two gold-encrusted tortoiseshell snuff boxes that belonged to Tsar Peter. One of them is decorated with a miniature depicting ships in the harbor of St. Petersburg. The second one is made in a very original form. It is made in the shape of a ship and even has glass windows. These two works were made by an unknown master.
Watch
The mechanism showing time was very popular in those distant times when Russia was ruled by royal dynasties. However, only the nobility could afford to buy a watch. They were attached using a special chain - a chatelaine - to the belt. However, it didn't end there. Several more chains were attached to the belt. On one of them there was a key. It was needed to wind the watch. Another chain was decorated with a pendant made by jewelers, and the third could contain any exquisite trifle. And the entire set was richly decorated with various precious stones. The Hermitage (Diamond Storeroom) shows a lot of similar items to its visitors.
Clocks by Swiss, French and English masters are also presented here in a tabletop version.
Salt shakers
We are all familiar with the Russian tradition of offering “bread and salt” to guests. Such a ceremony was also important for august persons. That is why among the exhibits in the Diamond Room of the Hermitage there are salt shakers. They are bowls made of silver or pure gold. The salt cellars are decorated with embossing and precious stones.
Creations of Ivan Kulibin
During the reign of Empress Catherine the Great, the now well-known self-taught mechanic pleased with things he made with his own hands. One of his priceless things is a watch, enclosed in an egg-shaped gilded openwork case.
Through the Empress's favorite, Count Kulibin, he presented this unique item to Catherine. In those days he aroused genuine admiration. After all, before this, masters in Rus' had never made watch movements. Jewelers made only the precious case intended for them.
Ivan Kulibin's watch, in addition to its usual movement, pleased the owner with a musical mechanism and figures moving to the tune.
Works of Jeremiah Pozier
This wonderful jeweler created his creations for three Russian empresses. An excursion to the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage will introduce you to its snuff boxes made of gold, decorated with branches of diamonds, as well as precious bouquets that in former times noble ladies wore on the shoulder, on the belt or on the bodice of their dresses. All stones were set in a silver frame, due to which they were devoid of a yellow tint. Gold served only to connect individual flowers into a bouquet. Because of this fastening, all parts were movable. This created an amazing effect. As the lady moved, the flowers moved and sparkled.
In order to display such bouquets, at the end of the 19th century. They even made special vases. They were made of rock crystal, which gave the impression of being filled with water.
Whose other works are kept in the Diamond Room?
Jewelry craftsmen working in St. Petersburg were, as a rule, of foreign origin. That is why visitors to the Diamond Room can admire the works of J.F.K. Bourdais, I. Pozier, I.G. Scharf, the Duval and Theremen brothers, as well as J.P. Adora.
Demand for jewelry in the 18th century. was extremely large. Interest in jewelry did not decline in the next century. During this period, items made by Carl Faberge were especially popular. The most iconic work of the famous master is a copy of such imperial regalia as the Great and Small Crown, as well as the orb and scepter. I made all these items in tenfold reduction.
Today, all copies are provided for review by the Hermitage (St. Petersburg), Diamond Storeroom. The smaller imperial regalia is placed on cushions made of white velvet and decorated with silver tassels. In turn, the pads are mounted on silver pedestals specially created for this purpose. All this splendor is placed on a platform similar to a Roman column. This pedestal is made of pink quartzite and decorated with a silver garland.
In order to begin work, Faberge needed to obtain special permission from the Palace. For this masterpiece, which participated in the 1900 World Industrial and Art Exhibition in Paris, the author received Gold medal and the Legion of Honor. At the same time, he was recognized as the best jeweler in the world. After this exhibition, Tsar Nicholas II purchased the products for the Hermitage.
Brilliant exhibits
One of the most striking collections in the Diamond Room includes jewelry made during the Renaissance. All of these items have a nautical theme and are decorated with “irregular” baroque pearls. One such product is the caravel pendant. It is made of solid emerald and serves as the hull of a ship.
Among the marine-themed items is the pendant of Elizabeth's corsair. This item is a translucent rounded pink quartz with a gold chain mount. On the mount there is an image of a ship cutting through the waves. The name of the owner of the pendant is also indicated here, as well as the date - 1590.
The Diamond Room of the Hermitage also contains unique items from the Sicilian city of Trapani, dating back to the 17th century. Experts assess them as extraordinary and rare. These are objects made of coral, silver and gilded copper. Their beauty literally captivates the eyes of visitors. One of these products is a hand jug. Crystals seem to grow from the walls of this vessel.
Browse unique collections
How to get to the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage? To do this, you need to purchase tickets for one of the excursions, which are held only on a scheduled basis.
The Hermitage (Diamond Pantry) invites everyone to visit. The tickets you will need for this are as follows:
1. At the entrance to the Hermitage. For citizens of Russia and Belarus, the cost of such a ticket is 400 rubles. Everyone else can purchase it for 600 rubles. Children and students of any country, as well as Russian pensioners, can visit the museum free of charge.
2. On a tour of the Diamond Storeroom. The cost of such a ticket is 300 rubles. for all categories of citizens.
Both tickets are sold by the Hermitage ticket office located directly at the entrance. During the high tourist season, you need to come for them as early as possible. After all, the number of tickets is limited. The high tourist season is considered to be the time of the white nights, May and New Year holidays.
Today it is possible to purchase tickets online. To do this, just go to the official website of the museum. However, the cost of tickets with this purchase option will be slightly higher. It will be 580 rubles. to enter the Hermitage, and to participate in a tour of the Diamond Room - 430 rubles.
Also on the Internet you can come across numerous websites of travel companies that offer tickets at inflated prices. It should be borne in mind that there is no need for intermediaries. Anyone can organize a visit to the Hermitage and the Diamond Room on their own. Moreover, excursions are conducted only by museum employees. The work of intermediaries consists only of purchasing tickets, for which they take an impressive commission.
What time is the Hermitage (Diamond Storeroom) open to the public? Museum opening hours vary slightly depending on the day of the week. Thus, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday the Hermitage invites visitors from 10.30 to 18.00. The ticket office is open only until 17.00. On Wednesday and Friday the museum welcomes guests from 10.30 to 21.00. You can get to the box office until 20.00. Monday is a day off at the Hermitage.
On Saturday and Sunday, as well as in the summer season, it is recommended to come to the museum either half an hour before opening or directly to it. This is due to the large influx of visitors. Anyone who arrives later will stand in line for several hours or simply not get into the museum.
How does the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage work? The schedule of her excursions can be found by contacting the information center administrator on the day of your visit. They are also displayed on special stands.
Excursions to the Diamond Room are well organized. After purchasing a ticket, visitors undress in the cloakroom and enter the museum. The group gathers thirty minutes before visiting the storage room in the museum lobby. This place is marked with a large sign. Museum workers will also help you find it. They will gladly point to the right place.
The excursion lasts an hour and a half, introducing you to the exhibits kept in the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage. Visitors are prohibited from taking photographs of jewelry.
With full responsibility it can be called the Crown of Russian museum decoration. Like any crown, the Hermitage is decorated with many unique works of art. But there is one place that outshines all the others. What haunts the imagination of the common man is the Diamond Pantry.
The emergence of the Diamond Vault
At the beginning of the Hermitage’s existence, no one had any question about the ownership of all its treasures. Naturally, the Russian autocrats were the collectors and owners. However, over time, the situation began to change, and already under Nicholas I a clear distinction between “personal” works and “state” ones appeared. During his reign, visitors were allowed into the Hermitage to see all the beauty and luxury of the exhibitions.
The emergence of the Jewelry Gallery is quite logical - at the end of the 19th century, the Winter Palace was divided into several zones. These were living quarters, rooms for intimate surroundings, as well as part of the premises, which began to be called the Imperial New Hermitage. It was in it that artistic treasures were stored. royal family. It included rare art treasures previously stored in the Kunstkamera, the Old Hermitage and the Moscow Armory Chamber. 165 items were moved from the Diamond Room to the Gallery. In December 1856 it was officially opened to the public.
"Brilliant" exhibits
One of the most striking collections is jewelry from the Renaissance, namely its maritime theme. Baroque “wrong” pearls were used for jewelry. One such product is a caravel pendant made of a solid emerald. The Baroque pearl plays the “role” of the ship’s hull.
The nautical theme is continued by the “Elizabeth’s Dog” pendant from the famous corsair Francis Drake. This is a translucent round shaped rose quartz with a gold chain mount. The mount depicts a ship cutting through the waves, the owner’s name and the date “1590” are indicated, and a ship is also depicted plowing the endless expanses of the sea.
Unique products of the 17th century from the city of Trapani (Sicily) are truly worthy of a cabinet of curiosities, as they are rare and extraordinary. These are products made of gilded copper, silver and coral, which in a magical combination mesmerized the eyes of visitors. One of these products was a hand jug, from the walls of which corals seemed to grow.
The creation of self-taught mechanic Ivan Kulibin once again proves that in Rus' there have always been craftsmen who could outshine any Faberge. So, Ivan Petrovich made a unique watch in an egg-shaped gold case. The peculiarity of the product was that in addition to the clock mechanism, there were also small figures that danced to the wonderful music produced by the clock.
Tears of the gods - diamonds
However, despite all these unique items, the bulk of the collection is occupied by diamonds. And this is not surprising, because the 17th century is rightly called the “age of diamonds.” These amazing stones were used in literally all household items of exquisite “clients” - these could be watches and bracelets, torches and fans, snuff boxes and simply jewelry.
The Diamond Room features snuff boxes of all shapes and sizes. In the everyday life of the empress, they performed not only their immediate functions, but also the role of gifts for her favorites.
The watches kept in the museum are decorated with diamonds and were a sign of good taste. Moreover, they came with an elegant key on a gold chain, and a “simple trinket”, like all the listed items - decorated with diamonds, rubies and sapphires.
Continuing the conversation about diamonds, I would like to specifically mention the works of Jeremiah Pozier, who spent his entire life “decorating” Russian empresses and palace nobility. Among other masterpieces, the Diamond Room contains a golden box decorated with branches of diamonds; flower bouquets in which the role of flowers was played by diamonds set in silver frames. Ladies wore these bouquets on their belts or attached them to the bodice of their dresses. Later, in the 19th century, a fashion arose to place them in vases made of rock crystal. This amazing mineral gave the vases the effect of being filled with water.
If you have had the honor of tasting “bread and salt,” then you know how important this ceremony is. The august persons treated it with even greater attention - their salt shakers were bowls made of pure gold or silver, decorated with exquisite chasing and precious stones.
The nineteenth century was not very different from the eighteenth century. It was marked by iconic works by Carl Fabergé and his replicas of the imperial regalia. Among them were the large and small imperial crowns, a scepter and an orb. The copies are reduced ten times, but this is precisely what gives them value, as unique creations jewelry art. This work was carried out to participate in the World Jewelry Exhibition in Paris in 1900. For his work, Faberge was awarded the Exhibition Gold Medal and the Legion of Honor. After the end of the exhibition, Emperor Nicholas II bought these amazing products.
Interesting facts
The most worthy people who have done a lot for Russia became holders of the diamond-studded Order of St. Andrew the First-Called.
One of the holders of the order was Ivan Mazepa, hetman of the Zaporozhye Cossacks. Peter I personally conferred the insignia of the order on the hetman “for his many noble and diligently faithful services in military labors.” However, in 1798 he was deprived of this order for going over to the side of the Swedes.
The order came with a chain consisting of 20 parts decorated with several hundred diamonds. This chain was valued at 77,233 rubles.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin again became the highest state award. The last of the holders of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called was Mikhail Gorbachev, who destroyed a great country.
Only experts can calculate the cost of exhibits in rubles, and this information may be closed to visitors. However, it is known for certain that the Great Imperial Crown in 1865 was valued at 823,976 rubles, the State - 190,353 rubles.
Our days
Today, the museum has not lost its interest in beautiful jewelry. One of the acquisitions of the 20th century was the work of the French jeweler Rene Lalique - the “Tangle of Snakes” pendant and the “Beetles” buckle.
With their brilliance, the exhibits of the Diamond Room are able to ignite a fire of interest in the eyes of any visitor. And this is not only because the cost of the exhibits in the Pantry is calculated by many “zeros”, but also because true values penetrate deep into the soul and do not leave anyone indifferent.
In the second half of the 18th century, there was a so-called “diamond” room in the Winter Palace next to the throne room. Along with the symbols of royal power - a crown, an orb, a scepter - many items were kept there that served as decorations or gifts.
The most common decoration in the XVI - XVII centuries there were pendants. Men and women wore them on a special chain on their chest. Sometimes in ancient portraits we see characters who have several decorations at the same time. They differed in purpose: among them were amulets, talismans that protected against the evil eye, and others. In the 16th - 17th centuries, during the era of geographical discoveries, pendants in the form of ships appeared. One of the Hermitage caravels, made in Spain around 1590, is made of emeralds: large, deep green stones form the base of the ship, the masts and the upper cross, the remaining parts are decorated with white enamel on a gold background.
Caravel pendant.
Spain. 1580 - 1590.
Emeralds, gold, enamel.
The pendant that belonged to the legendary Francis Drake, a pirate and admiral of the fleet of Queen Elizabeth of England, dates back to the same time. It is made of white quartz, but it seems pink. Being placed in a special coloring solution, the stone, which has many microcracks, absorbed its color.
Pearls have been used by jewelers since ancient times. In the 16th century, the so-called Baroque pearls appeared, distinguished by their bizarre shape. The artist’s task was to find in its “wrong” outline the idea of the future work. In the “Swan”, “Siren”, “Dragon” pendants, such a pearl forms the basis of the product and dictates the meaning. Products made from carved ornamental stone were not inferior in popularity. Bowls, vases, jugs, cups and boxes were not intended for everyday use, but for decorating state rooms and diplomatic gifts. An example of this is a goblet made of rock crystal with rubies, presented to Peter the Great.
By the way, The diverse activities of Peter I were of great importance for the development of jewelry craft. Traveling around Europe, making diplomatic trips, the emperor brought many gifts, including jewelry. Figurines made in Saxony at the beginning of the 18th century appear in Russia - various, sometimes funny, figurines made of silver, pearls, precious stones.
By moving the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg, Peter sought to create a city equal to European capitals. Here, on the banks of the Neva, he sent the best craftsmen from Moscow, including jewelers, and invited foreign craftsmen. In 1714, a workshop of foreign jewelers began operating., which initially consisted of captured Swedes. And in 1722, following their example, Russian masters united. This explains the increased quantity and excellent quality of jewelry from the 18th century. Each workshop foreman, going through a period of apprenticeship, was required to complete a competition entry. According to its results, the master was allowed to work independently, have apprentices and apprentices, and put a mark on the work.
I. Pozier. Bouquet of precious stones.
Petersburg. 1740s.
Court life and the peculiarities of palace etiquette required a greater number of new decorations. In the 18th century, snuff boxes became the most common piece of jewelry., both tabletop, intended for decorating the offices of nobles, and portable - they were selected to suit the costume and the time of year. Lacquered and tortoiseshell ones were used in winter, stone and metal ones in summer. Sometimes snuff boxes had several compartments for different types of snuff. In addition, they served as gifts, which were awarded for merits and noted assistance in sensitive matters: be it a palace coup or a love affair. It is known that in the 18th century, the award of a snuff box, if it had a monogram or portrait of the monarch mounted in it, was valued on a par with an order. Some of them were intended to store a portrait. This is a box with the image of Louis XV and Maria Leszczynska, made in Paris at the beginning of the 18th century by a court master French king D. Guer. It was presented to Princess Kurakina, the wife of B.I. Kurakin, the Russian ambassador to the Parisian court.
For more than a century, the fashion for snuff has persisted, so snuff boxes reflected changes in traditions, artistic styles, customer requirements. Made by the largest French jewelers, magnificent rocaille boxes made of gold and mother-of-pearl by Gouer, snuff boxes by Ducrolay and Auguste attract attention with ornaments made of gold and enamels. The monuments made by the Dresden master I. H. Neuber were called “cabinet of stones.” In these products, the decor is simple, it comes down to a mosaic consisting of semi-precious minerals from Saxony, arranged in thin plates over the entire surface. Each section of the mosaic has a number engraved next to it on a gold rim. Inside the snuff box is a book containing a decoding and description of the stone. Of great interest are the snuff boxes that belonged to the Prussian Emperor Frederick II (there were more than a hundred of them). They are large in shape and bright in color. For a greater color effect, jewelers placed colored foil under the diamonds.
Snuffbox.
Germany. Mid-18th century.
Rhinestone, gold, precious stones
Many items made by both Russian and foreign jewelers are associated with the history of Russia. Among them are simple snuff boxes that belonged to Peter I. A wooden one in the shape of a galley. gold with a tortoiseshell plate with a view of St. Petersburg mounted in the lid, quartz with monograms. Empresses Anna Ioannovna and Elizaveta Petrovna ordered irregularly shaped boxes decorated with many diamonds. The fashion for these products reached its greatest extent during the thirty-year reign of Catherine II. The largest St. Petersburg masters, such as Ador, Scharf, Budde, Gass, worked on her orders.
Creativity J.-P. Adora, of Swiss origin, who worked in Russia for about 20 years, is closely connected with the history of the Russian court. The Chesme snuff box was made on the occasion of the first anniversary of the victory of the Russian fleet over the Turkish in Chesme Bay. It is decorated with enamel miniatures glorifying the battle. The same master also made thirty snuff boxes, which were intended as gifts to participants in the palace coup of 1762. They contain medals where Catherine II is depicted as the goddess Minerva.
Another master - I. G. Sharf - gravitated towards simple shapes like a circle or oval. His products are exquisite in color and are distinguished by his love for small stones. The Teremen brothers worked in St. Petersburg for several years, and in the Hermitage they are represented by snuff boxes with micromosaics - a technique that requires great skill. In addition, toiletries - special boxes designed for storing various items - have come into fashion. They were also divided into portable and tabletop, male and female. Women's toiletries had a needle, comb, scissors, etc., men's bags had a folding ruler, and sometimes a compass. As an example, two items from the Hermitage collection can be cited. A small compact toiletry case with 25 items made in England in the mid-18th century. Another table decoration, made of heliotrope, could also be used as a writing instrument.
Travel bag with key rings
England. Mid-18th century.
Gold, diamonds.
Perhaps, the only thing that was as popular as snuff boxes was watches. The clock mechanism was invented in the 17th century, and the first clocks had one hand and, accordingly, accuracy within half an hour. Gradually they become more accurate. Their decor, and they belonged only to the nobility, is magnificent: precious stones, various cases and a chatelaine chain attached to the belt. They also matched the suit; sometimes worn for several hours at a time.
J.Fasie. Clock on the chatelaine
Petersburg, 1770s
Gold, diamonds, enamel
A review of the jewelry collection would be incomplete without at least a few words on the collection of rings, bracelets, as well as magnificent bouquets composed of precious stones intended to be worn on the shoulder or belt. They are striking in the sophistication of the selection of stones, the fineness of the cut, and the elegance of the frames. In special vases made later, the “bouquets” were displayed in a new room - a gallery of precious things, open to the public in the middle of the 19th century. It was the first museum complex designed to display objects applied arts.
In 1911, a new hall of jewelry was opened, one of the exhibits of which was a gold toilette, made in the 1730s in Augsburg in the Biller workshop. It consists of 47 items, made for Empress Anna Ioannovna, and then kept in the storerooms of the Winter Palace and served for dressing brides of the royal house for the crown. The combination of matte and shiny gold surfaces highlights the design of objects and ornaments.
After October Revolution collections of jewelry were replenished by the receipt of nationalized private collections.
Walk through the halls of the Hermitage. Part 1.
Since 1925, items that were part of the Treasure Gallery have been exhibited in the Special Storeroom of the Hermitage.
O. KOSTYUK
Next page: Peter the Great in the Hermitage
Among the extensive correspondence that I began to receive from all over former Union and from abroad, after my articles about “foreign Russian gold” and the first edition of this book, a letter from A.V. became typical. Kireeva from the Kaluga region dated April 16, 1993 A.V. Kireev reported: since 1957, he worked in the city of Shevchenko (now Aktau), on the Mangyshlak Peninsula on the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea. In those days, he accidentally came across the book “Chekists of Kazakhstan”, where he read the following: “...after the defeat, the remnants of Kolchak’s army under the command of General Tolstoy retreated through Fort Aleksandrovsky (where the great Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko. - Author) on Mangyshlak, Ust-Yurt plateau, in order to break through to the south and go beyond the cordon. When approaching the Buzachi Peninsula, they hid the rest of Russia’s gold reserves.” (Kireev checked with the old-timers, the Kazakhs, and they confirmed: as many as “seven carts.”) Guryev’s security officers then unsuccessfully searched for this gold for 15 years.
I receive dozens of letters of this kind, only the geography of the “treasures of Kolchak’s gold” changes. This is the Taiga station of the Trans-Siberian railway, then a former Orthodox monastery in Primorye on the border with China, then the Razdolnoye railway crossing of the Primorye Railway, then the “golden steamship on the Ob in Western Siberia.”
So in the spring of 2003, one “Caucasian” prospector from the town of Zeya, Amur Region in the Far East, first called me, and then sent me a whole folder of cuttings and photocopies from local newspapers and books by Amur local historians about the search for the next portion of “Siberian gold”, to this time - on the Bolshevik river gunboat "Ogorochanin" that ran aground on the Zeya River in September 1918 with a cargo of gold confiscated by the "Reds" from four commercial banks and three insurance companies of the Amur province.
Judging by the book by Ilya Bezrodny, a participant in the Civil War in the Far East, “Cupid on Fire” (Vladivostok, 1932), several dozen boxes of gold were loaded on board the gunboat.
On one of the riffles of the river.
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Zeya's boat fell into a Kolchak or Japanese ambush, was fired upon and, maneuvering to escape the fire, ran aground. The crew urgently abandoned the ship, and allegedly first threw all the boxes into the water, except for three, which they allegedly buried on the shore.
Since then, local (newspaper "Amurskaya Pravda", 1992) and capital ("Komsomolskaya Pravda", 1993) journalists have repeatedly called for finding this gold treasure from the "red galleon" (gunboat), but all the searches by local gold miners turned out to be unsuccessful, like the previous searches of the Japanese, Kolchakites, Semyonovites, Red partisans and the OGPU in the 20s - early 30s.
Interest in the gold treasure from the gunboat "Ogorchanin" all these 85 years has also been supported by the fact that local residents of the village of Novoandreevsk, opposite which the gunboat ran aground on the Zeya River, from time to time, while gardening or plowing, actually find gold bars in the ground. So, back in 1979, collective farmer Maria Efimova found a gold bar in her garden with “Blagoveshchensk, 1917” stamped on it.
The next ingot, found by a tractor driver of the same collective farm named after. Lenin Nikolai Vasilenko from the same village while plowing, was honored to get into the 80s. XX century in the Guinness Book of Records. In the traditional section of this British directory “LARGEST TREASURES” we read: “A gold bar weighing 12 kg 285.3 grams was found in the summer of 1987 by a collective farm machine operator named after. Lenin, Amur region Nikolai Vasilenko. In the bank, this standard gold bar, cast in 1918, was valued at 588 thousand rubles. N. Vasilenko received the largest sum in Russia for his find - 147 thousand rubles, 25% of the estimated value of the treasure provided for by law.”
It is these 25% of the found gold treasures that inspire the current “gold diggers”, one of whom - my “Caucasian” from the city of Zeya - tried to seduce me with this bait, offering to lead a new expedition in the Amur region to search for the remaining ingots from the gunboat “Ogorodchanin” .
And yet, stories about the hidden “Kolchak treasures” in Siberia do not leave the pages of newspapers and magazines (see, for example, the article in the magazine “Gold of Russia”, 1994, No. 1-2, about another treasure allegedly hidden on the orders of the admiral in area of the “Black Lakes” near Blagoveshchensk in the winter of 1919) For the participation of the OGPU-NKVD-KGB of the USSR in the search for such “treasures”, see Appendix No. 5 to this book.
Dozens of stories and tales have been written about the supposedly already found “Kolchak treasures” in Eastern Siberia and Primorye. A typical example of such a “spreading cranberry” is historical story Yuri Sergeev “Bereginya”, published in the magazine “Young Guard” (1992, No. 5-6).
All the more valuable are the rare testimonies of eyewitnesses who have survived to this day, for example, grandfather Luka Pavlov from the same Novoandreevka, recorded in 1992 by a reporter from Amurskaya Pravda. In 1918, the future grandfather was only seven or eight years old, he stood on the shore and saw how the gunboat ran aground. He did not see any boxes of gold being thrown overboard. But I saw something else: the crew jumped overboard in a panic (they were afraid of persecution either by Kolchak’s men or by the Japanese), and the abandoned ship a few hours later was simply plundered by the surrounding men. Here they are, according to Luke’s testimony, actually, groaning and swearing, they were carrying some heavy boxes on themselves.
The evidence is familiar: after all, this is exactly how in November 1812, on the approach to the Berezina, the Cossacks of Ataman Platov plundered Napoleon’s “golden train” from the Kremlin, and then atone for their sin by building, with personal donations, in the capital of the Don Army - Novocherkassk - a huge Orthodox cathedral Cathedral, the second largest after St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
But treasures should be looked for in places other than where popular rumor points to them. Here is one of the exact addresses, also indicated on the official letterhead of Kolchak’s Minister of Foreign Affairs I.I. Sukina (ciphered from Omsk to the Russian Consul General in Shanghai Viktor Fedorovich Grosse through the Ambassador of Tsarist Russia in Beijing, Prince Kudashev, September 24, 1919 No. 688):
“Please inform Shanghai Grosse. The Minister of Finance (“Omsk government.” - Author) asks you to convey: in your name I am sending from Vladivostok over 6,000 poods with a steamship departing from Vladivostok around September 26. All detailed instructions about the date of arrival and the amount of The director of the Foreign Branch of the State Bank of Vladivostok will inform you that the gold will be unloaded.
Signed: Sukin."
This was not the first “golden parcel” from Vladivostok addressed to Consul V.F. Grosse. In May of the same year, he already received a bill of lading for 600 poods on the Russian patrol military cruiser Commander Bering.
So this is where you need to look for “Kolchak’s treasures” - in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Osaka and Yokohama, further across the Pacific Ocean - in San Francisco, Vancouver, New York and even further, across the Atlantic Ocean - in London, Stockholm, Paris , Brussels and Swiss banks.
Moreover, documents for all these bills of lading from 1914 have been preserved - from financial agreements to diplomatic correspondence and receipts for cargo receipt.
Exposition of the Diamond Storeroom of the Hermitage
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Taking photographs in the pantry is completely prohibited, using any device, including a phone. All the following photographs are taken from the official Hermitage website.
The exhibition includes gold jewelry found in the Maikop burial mound. These are the earliest exhibits from the storeroom, dating back to the fourth century BC. The skill of ancient masters evokes genuine admiration. All the jewelry presented previously belonged to the leader of the nomads and his wives, buried in the Maikop mound.
Goby from the Maikop mound of the 4th century. BC, about 10-15 cm
Next on display are many works by ancient Greek masters found in southern Russia and Crimea. The products of the Scythians are very complex and intricate, full of symbolism, in vain they are considered barbarians, the ancient Greeks called them barbarians, look at the amphora below, is this barbaric art?
Amphora from the Scythian collection
The amphora is large, probably about 70 cm in height, on top there are very vivid and realistic depictions of the stages of horse taming, 4th century. BC
Works of Western European art were mainly presented to the imperial family as diplomatic gifts, some were purchased to replenish the collection.
Reliquary, Western Europe, where the relics of saints were kept
Small jewelry, rings and earrings did not make a strong impression on me; if you do not know that these stones are diamonds, then it is difficult to find them very attractive. An uncut 10 carat diamond inserted into a ring does not look good.
The largest and most luxurious showcase contains two horse harnesses, including horse blankets, bridles, tail decorations, sabers. All these items are richly decorated with precious stones, many diamonds, sparkle and shimmer in front of the surprised audience.
Excursion to the Golden Pantry of the Hermitage
It was for this display case that the storeroom was called Diamond. There are no photographs of it on the Internet; you can only see this impressive spectacle by visiting the exhibition in person.
In addition to such luxurious things as these blankets, there are also things that are valuable because they belonged to famous people. I remember the Gospel that belonged to Peter I. It is quite small, the cover is skillfully embroidered with freshwater pearls different sizes, most of the pearls are more like beads; it probably took a lot of time to make the cover for the Gospel, because each pearl must first be drilled and then sewn on, and this is titanic work.
The toilet set of Anna Ioannovna, the Russian Empress, also makes an impression. There is no photo of the device on the Internet either. The Empress devoted 6-8 hours to her toilet. It took more than 65 kg of gold to make all the items - a mirror in a massive frame, a toiletry case, a teapot, a coffee pot, etc., about 60 items in total. The most amazing thing is that the set included a special stick for scratching the head. In those years they wore very voluminous hairstyles, but they did not like to wash themselves and everyone had lice, including the empress.
The exposition of the pantry includes many toiletries - richly decorated with precious stones, cases for manicure sets and perfumes - very beautiful things.
There are quite a lot of pocket watches, all of these watches look luxurious and were intended mainly to demonstrate the status of the owner, and not to tell the time. Some fashionistas hung on themselves for several hours.
Since the era of Peter I, snuff has become fashionable and the collection contains many snuff boxes made in different styles.
But there are no Faberge eggs in the Diamond Pantry at all; they were all sold during the revolution and civil war. From Faberge, the collection contains only small copies of imperial crowns, scepters and orbs. More recently, the Faberge Museum opened in St. Petersburg, where you can see Faberge Easter eggs and many other pieces of jewelry. The Faberge Museum is located near the Anichkov Bridge on the Fontanka embankment.
Smaller copies of imperial crowns, scepters and orbs.
The most luxurious things are not presented in photographs that can be found on the Internet. It is impossible to assess the real size of things in photographs, so visiting a museum cannot replace viewing photographs.
This is quite tiring for children; by the end of the excursion, the children were already tired and did not listen very carefully to the guide, for preschool age It would probably be too hard. Inspecting both the Gold and Diamond storerooms at one time is also probably too difficult, it’s better to space it out over time.
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TOP 10 Hermitage exhibits that need to be seen
Masterpieces of the Hermitage
Jewelry in the Hermitage
Artistic processing of metal, or the art of toreutics - from the Greek word "torеuo", which means I cut out, mint, originated in ancient times. Already in the third - second millennium BC. e. skilled craftsmen of Egypt, Western Asia, and the Aegean world made precious jewelry, various bowls and goblets, lavishly decorated with reliefs and engravings.
Noble metals - gold, silver and platinum - are excellent materials for creating various kinds of works of applied art. The first to become known was gold, which is often found in nature in its pure form. Much later, only in the 16th century, platinum was discovered. These metals, especially gold, do not oxidize in air, so products made from them have a beautiful, non-fading shine and retain their pristine beauty for centuries. Remarkable natural properties - malleability, softness and fusibility - determined the technical methods of their processing. For example, the amazing malleability of gold is the basis of coinage, its softness made engraving and carving possible, and its fusibility made it possible to cast. Various technical techniques were improved at times, sometimes degraded, some were used in a certain period and among different peoples more, others less, but their basis remained and always remains the same.
IN Special storage room The Hermitage (opened in 1925), brings together collections of artistic items made of precious metals and precious stones, previously dispersed among individual exhibitions and, mainly, the museum’s holdings.
The first section of the exhibition presents works of art made of gold and silver ancient eras, in the second - jewelry of Western European and Russian masters of the 16th-19th centuries. These collections number several thousand artistic objects, many of which are masterpieces of applied art, widely known not only in our country, but also abroad.
The collection of ancient gold and silver items in the Special Storeroom of the Hermitage is unique in its artistic and historical significance and is the largest in the world. It includes several thousand monuments of jewelry art, originating mainly from mounds, necropolises or treasures left by various tribes and peoples who once inhabited the vast territory of our country. Among the exhibits there are rare examples of toreutics of the third millennium BC. e. The art of the era of the early nomads and the period of the “great migration of peoples” (VI century BC - 7th century AD) is most fully reflected. A variety of products introduce the visual arts of the Scythians, Sarmatians, as well as other nomadic and sedentary tribes of the southern Russian steppes and Siberia. A large group of objects gives an idea of the skill of the jewelers of the ancient colonial cities on the northern coast of the Black Sea. In addition, the collection includes works of foreign toreutics brought to the Northern Black Sea region from Asia Minor and Asia Minor, Greece, and Byzantium.
The wealth of the collection of ancient gold, compiled through the work of several generations of archaeologists, makes it possible to trace the long path of development of jewelry - one of oldest species human artistic creativity. Not all items in this collection are equal in merit. Some of them are genuine examples of high art, others are mass craft products. In general, they give an idea not only of artistic culture and technical skill of ancient peoples, but also help to learn about their worldview and way of life.
The works of goldsmiths and jewelers of the 16th-19th centuries, in turn, reflect the versatility of this unique type of applied art with exhaustive completeness and consistency.
Siberian collection of Peter I
The most ancient archaeological finds in the burial mounds of the Northern Black Sea region
Jewelry from the era of the early nomads.
Scythian jewelry in "animal" style
Works of Bosporan jewelers from Scythian burial mounds
Gold plaques from the Kul-Oba mound
Chased vessels of Greek craftsmen from Scythian burials
Jewelry from ancient colonial cities of the Northern Black Sea region
Antique earrings from the 6th century BC.
Lost secrets of grain technique. Greek earrings from the late 5th century BC.
Earrings and pendants from the Kul-Oba mound
Antique necklaces from the 4th century BC.
Twisted bracelets of the 5th-4th centuries BC.
Unique embossed items from Scythian burial mounds - a phial and a carved helmet
Golden signet rings from Scythian burial mounds
Gold plaques from Scythian burial mounds
Jewelry from the Hellenistic era (late 4th - 1st centuries BC)
Sarmatian jewelry (1st century BC - 1st century AD)
Jewelry from the period of the “great migration of peoples” (IV-VII centuries AD)
Works of Kyiv jewelers of the 12th-13th centuries
Jewelry from Western European and Russian masters of the 16th - early 19th centuries.
Renaissance pendants
Caravels - Western European jewelry
Rock crystal cups and bowls
Enamel products of Russian masters of the 17th century
Jewelry from Western Europe in the 18th century
Precious snuff boxes from the 18th century.
Bouquets of precious stones
Gold clasp Lion griffin tormenting a horse. V-IV centuries BC Siberia.
Gold bracelet. V-IV centuries BC Siberia.
Gold clasp with scene of rest on the road. V-IV centuries BC Siberia.
Bull figurine. III millennium BC Maikop mound.
Figurines of gold and silver bulls. III millennium BC Maikop mound.
Silver cup with images of animals and mountain landscape. III millennium BC Maikop mound.
Akinaka sword scabbard. Beginning VI century BC e. Kelermesek mound.
Golden Panther. VII century BC Kelermesek mound.
Golden deer. VI century BC Kostroma Kurgan.
Belt hook. IV century BC Mastyuginsky mound.
The cover is lit depicting scenes from the life of Achilles. IV century BC Chertomlyk mound.
Scabbard of a ceremonial sword. End V - beginning 4th century BC Chertomlyk mound.
The hilt of a ceremonial sword. V century BC Chertomlyk mound.
Amphora for wine. IV century BC Chertomlyk mound.
Sword scabbard. End V - beginning IV centuries BC Solokha mound.
Comb depicting a battle between warriors. End V - beginning IV centuries BC Solokha mound.
Golden vial with scenes of tormenting animals. End V - beginning 4th century BC BC Solokha mound.
Vessel with scenes of lion hunting.
400-375 BC Solokha mound.
Silver vessel with scenes of lion hunting. 400-375 BC Solokha mound.
Silver
Vessel with images of Scythians. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.
A vessel with images of scenes from Scythian life. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.
A vessel with images of scenes from Scythian life. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.
Golden hryvnia with endings in the form of Scythian horsemen. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.
The endings of the hryvnia are in the form of Scythian horsemen. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba
The end of the golden hryvnia in the form of a Scythian horseman. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba
Gold plaque with twinning scene. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.
Gold plaque in the form of a galloping Scythian horseman. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.
Gold plaque in the form of two Scythians shooting from bows. IV century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.
Gold plaque in the shape of a deer. 4th century BC Kurgan Kul-Oba.
Ear pendant with a lion's head. VI century BC e. Olvia.
Earring in the form of Artemis on a deer. 325-300 BC Nymphaeum.
Gold pendants in the form of flying erotes. OK. V century BC Panticapaeum.
Gold pendant in the form of the goddess Nike. OK. V century BC Panticapaeum.
