Special Treasury in Peterhof

The west wing of the Grand Peterhof Palace is taken by the very interesting museum that can rival the celebrated exhibitions in the Hermitage museum and Moscow Kremlin. There are exclusive and precious items on display, mostly diplomatic gifts and Romanovs dynasty paraphernalia. The premises in the west wing have appeared during the reconstruction of the Grand Palace in 1745-1755 by the architect F. B. Rastrelli. The rooftop of the west wing structure is crowned with the scuplture of the double eagle – the Russian heraldic symbol. Due to that fact there is another name for this edifice – the “Coat of Arms Pavilion”.

The rooms of the museum are rather small. It is because they were used as the private chambers. Rastrelli designed these chambers for Elisabeth but she did not live here. Her successor on the throne of Russia Catherine the Great lived here when she arrived to Peterhof. Crowned heads of Europe, diplomats and high-born relatives of the Russian Imperial family were often given lodging here if they came to Russia in the summer time. No matter what the size of the chambers was, they were lavishly decorated as always, walls are lined with silk upholstery and adorned with gilded ornaments.

The museum exhibition starts with the artifacts once belonged to Peter the Great. One of the top rarities here is the clock of gilded bronze by master G. Rowley, the gift to Peter the Great from George I, the first king of Great Britain from the house of Hanover. There is tobacco box with the portrait of Peter the Great. Peter has brought to Russia the habit of tobacco smoking and would give tobacco boxes to his subjects as the official reward for the state services. As the result tobacco boxes remained the customary imperial gifts all the way until the last Romanovs. There are other aplied art and jewellry pieces dating back to the early 1700s here and the portrait of Peter the Great by G. Kneller, one of the best images of the young Peter.

In the next chamber we can see the things that belonged to the family of Nicholas I, who ruled Russia in the middle of the 19th century. Most of these beautiful artifacts came from the cottage Palace – their summer family home in Peterhof. There are court and military uniforms and two throne chairs. The next several small rooms are dedicated to the life and rule of Catherine the Great: there are her dresses, shoes, snuff-boxes, silverware, fans on display, as well as documents and books. There is silver mirror made in France by the court jeweler Germaine, most probably it came to Peterhof as the gift from the king of France Louis XV to Elisabeth I. Generations of Russian brides from the Romanovs family were dressed up in front of that mirror. Many royal weddings were performed in Peterhof. In one of the showcases there are memorial things which belonged to Alexander II, donated to Peterhof museum by the descendants of his second morganatic wife. Among these things is the quill with which the Emperor signed the emansipation Edict in 1861.

In the next rooms there is the showcase with the precious church utensils: chalice, altar cross, holy vessels, tabernacle, beautifully set Gospel book. All of these pieces come from the private chapels of the Russian Imperial House.

There is a special exhibition dedicated to the art of jewelry in Russia. The most famous jewelry producer was Carl Faberge, his company bore the title of the offical Court Supplier. There is jeweler’s bench on display with all of the instruments. One of the best Faberge company masters was Ivan Brytsin, there are insrtuments that belonged to him. Definitely there are pieces made by Faberge represented here which belonged to the family of Nicholas II, the last Russian emperor.

There is a special exhibition dedicated to the art of jewelry in Russia. The most famous jewelry producer was Carl Faberge, his company bore the title of the offical Court Supplier. There is jeweler’s bench on display with all of the instruments. One of the best Faberge company masters was Ivan Brytsin, there are insrtuments that belonged to him. Definitely there are pieces made by Faberge represented here which belonged to the family of Nicholas II, the last Russian emperor.