The Hermitage's Diamond Pantry: The History of Creation

The Hermitage is a state museum, which many specialists and visitors call only the Crown of Russian museum furniture. Its halls are decorated with many unique works of art.

But not only the connoisseurs of beauty seek to get here, coming to the Hermitage. The gold and diamond pantry literally overshadow everything in other halls. After all, these departments have the most valuable treasures. But the imagination of the common man is especially striking. The Hermitage's Diamond Pantry. About it and we will talk in this article.

History

When the Hermitage occurred, no one raised the question of the belonging of the treasures in it. Of course, the owners and collectors of all values were Russian autocrats. But the situation gradually changed. And already Nicholas I began to distinguish works, singling out "personal" and "state" ones. During the reign of this king, the Hermitage hosted visitors who were to see the luxury and beauty of all the items displayed in the exposition. When did the Hermitage's Diamond Pantry arise ? The history of its appearance is quite logical. After all, all the existing imperial regalia, as well as crown diamonds, had to be stored somewhere. At the same time they should be kept in such a way as to guarantee immunity and avoid any accidents.

In order to store imperial regalia, crown diamonds, as well as valuable jewelry and fur things, Nicholas I created a special structure. He called it the Cameral Department of the Cabinet of EIW.

Of course, all these valuable items were under vigilant supervision and until the 19th century. The history of the Cabinet created by Nicholas I takes its origins in 1704. Initially, this structure dealt with the management of economic, administrative, and financial affairs of the ruling emperors. It was created in accordance with the Order of Secret Affairs, published by Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. Until the end of the 18th century, such a Cabinet was in charge of storing all imperial regalia, as well as crown diamonds. But some changes in this activity were made on July 16, 1786. Then, according to the 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 the state values, which were jewelry.

By the end of the 19th century a conditional division of the Winter Palace appeared. It was believed that there are several zones in it. They included living quarters, as well as rooms reserved for the encirclement of the emperor. There was a special zone in the Winter Palace. It was a room in which were the artistic values belonging to the royal family. This area was called the Imperial New Hermitage. Here were stored items previously held in the Kunstkammer and the Moscow Armory. Moved here and works of art from the Old Hermitage.

In December 1856, they officially opened a unique collection of exhibits for visitors. The room in which they were located became known as the Hermitage's Diamond Pantry. Initially, it was placed one hundred and sixty-five things.

Collection of jewelry creations

What's in store today in the Hermitage's Diamond Pantry? It contains many things that show the visitors of the museum the gradual development of the jewelry business, which has been perfected throughout the long history of mankind. But it is the objects of 18th-century art that are most proud of the Hermitage's Diamond Pantry. The exhibits executed by hands of fine craftsmen of this epoch, are here not casually. After all, the 18th century is called the century of diamonds. What kind of things did jewelers from Europe do for the most demanding customers!

These are caskets and snuff-boxes, vanity cases and muskets, fans and watches, ornaments for dresses, hats and hair. There are among these items perfume bottles, bracelets and rings.

Precious snuff boxes

The Hermitage's Diamond Pantry presents a large number of items to visitors. Many of them were purchased by the Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. For example, according to her order, various snuffboxes were purchased. It's hard to find such a thing today. And in those distant times these were special boxes intended for storage of tobacco. What fell into the Diamond Store of the Hermitage was at one time a precious reward to the Empress for her services.

Used snuff-boxes, made by jewelers and as diplomatic, as well as intimate gifts. There is also an oval box in this unique pantry, decorated with the monograms of Catherine II and Semen Zorich (one of her many favorites). They store in the Hermitage 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 is executed in a very original form. It is made in the form of a ship and has even glass windows. These two works are made by an unknown master.

Clock

The mechanism that shows time was very popular in those distant times when Russia ruled over the dynasties of the tsars. However, only the nobility could afford to buy a watch. They were attached by means of a special chain - the shuttle to the belt. However, this did not end there. A few more chains were attached to the belt. On one of them was a key. It was necessary for a watch factory. Another chain was decorated with a suspension made by jewelers, and on the third there could be any refined trifle. And all such a set was abundantly decorated with various precious stones. A lot of similar items are shown to their visitors by the Hermitage (Diamond Pantry).

Opening hours of Swiss, French and English masters are presented here and in the desktop version.

Salt cellars

We all know the Russian tradition, concluded in the offer to the guests of the "bread-salt". Important such ceremony was for the most august persons. That is why among the exhibits of the Diamond Room of the Hermitage there are saltcellars. They are bowls made of silver or pure gold. The salt-cellars are decorated with chasing, as well as precious stones.

The works of Ivan Kulibin

During the reign of the Empress Catherine the Great, he rejoiced with the well-known self-taught mechanic, performed with his own hands. One of his priceless things is a watch enclosed in an egg-shaped gilded fishnet case.

Through the favorite of the Empress Count Vladimir Orlov, Kulibin presented this unique item to Catherine. In those days, he caused genuine admiration. After all, before this master in Russia never did watch movements. The jewelers made only the precious body intended for them.

In addition to the usual move, Ivan Kulibin's watches delighted the owner with a musical mechanism and moving figures under the melody.

Works by Jeremiah Pose

This fine jeweler created his creations for three Russian empresses. An excursion to the Diamond Store of the Hermitage will acquaint you with his snuffboxes of gold, decorated with branches of diamonds, as well as precious bouquets that in former times noble ladies wore on the shoulder, on the waist or on the bodice of the dress. All the stones were fixed in a silver frame, due to which they were deprived of a yellow shade. Gold served only to connect individual flowers in a bouquet. Because of this fastening, all parts were mobile. This created an amazing effect. During the movement, the ladies fluttered and flashed.

In order to demonstrate such bouquets, in the late 19th century. Even made special vases. They were made of rock crystal, which created the impression of their fullness with water

Whose else works are stored in the Diamond Room?

Masters of jewelry business, working in St. Petersburg, were, as a rule, of foreign origin. That's why the visitors of the Diamond Room can admire the works of JFK. Burde, I. Pose, I.G. Scarf, the Duval brothers and Teremene, as well as J.P. Adora.

Demand for decorations in the 18th century. Was extremely large. Interest in jewelry did not fall in the next century. During this period, items made by Carl Faberge were especially popular. The most significant work of the famous master is a copy of such imperial regalia as the Great and Small Crown, as well as the Power and the Scepter. All these subjects Carl Faberge performed in a tenfold reduction.

Today, all copies provide for review to its visitors the Hermitage (St. Petersburg), the Diamond Pantry. Reduced imperial regalia are placed on pads made of white velvet and adorned with silver tassels. In turn, the pads are strengthened on specially created for this purpose silver pedestals. All this splendor is placed on a dais like a Roman column. A plinth of pink quartzite is made and decorated with a silver garland.

In order to get down to work, Faberge needed to get a special permission from the Palace. For this masterpiece, which participated in the 1900 World Industrial and Art Exhibition in Paris, the author received the Gold Medal and the Order of the Legion of Honor. At the same time he was recognized as the best jeweler of the world. After this exhibition, Tsar Nicholas II products were purchased for the Hermitage.

Brilliant exhibits

One of the brightest collections of the Diamond Room includes jewelry made in the Renaissance. All these things have a marine theme and are decorated with "wrong" baroque pearls. One such product is the caravel suspension. It is made of a single emerald, and the baroque pearl serves as the hull of the ship.

Among the products of the marine theme is the suspension of the corsair Elizabeth Francis Drake. This thing is a translucent round quartz of pink color, with a gold fastening for the chain. On the mount there is an image of a ship dissecting waves. Here, the name of the owner of the suspension is indicated, as well as the date - 1590.

There are also unique items from the Sicilian city of Trapani dating back to the 17th century in the Hermitage's Diamond Room. Experts assess them as unordinary and rare. These are items made of coral, silver and gilded copper. Their beauty literally bewitches the eyes of visitors. One such product is a jug-hilum. From the walls of this vessel like crystals grow.

View unique collections

How to get to the Hermitage's Diamond store? For this it is necessary to purchase tickets for one of the excursions, which are carried out only on schedule.

The Hermitage (the Diamond Storehouse) invites everyone to join us. The tickets that will be needed 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. All the rest can buy it for 600 rubles. Free of charge the museum can be visited by children and students of any country, as well as Russian pensioners.

2. On a guided tour in the Diamond Pantry. The cost of this ticket is 300 rubles. For all categories of citizens.

Both tickets are sold by Hermitage cash desks located directly at the entrance. During the high tourist season it is necessary to come for them as early as possible. After all, the number of tickets is limited. A high tourist season is the time of white nights, May and New Year holidays.

To date, there is an opportunity to purchase tickets online. For this it is enough to go to the official site of the museum. True, the cost of tickets with this option will be slightly higher. It will be 580 rubles. To enter the Hermitage, and to participate in the tour of the Diamond Room - 430 rubles.

Also on the Internet you can stumble upon numerous sites of travel companies that offer tickets at inflated prices. It should be borne in mind that there is no need for intermediaries. Any person can arrange a visit to the Hermitage and the Diamond Room on their own. As excursions are spent only by employees of a museum. The work of intermediaries is only in the purchase of tickets, for which an impressive commission is taken.

What time is open for visiting the Hermitage (Diamond Pantry)? The museum's working hours vary slightly depending on the day of the week. So, on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday the Hermitage invites visitors from 10.30 to 18.00. The cash departments at the same time work only until 5 pm. On Wednesday and Friday the museum hosts guests from 10.30 to 21.00. At the same time you can get to the ticket offices before 20.00. Monday in the Hermitage is a day off.

On Saturday and Sunday, and also in the summer season it is recommended to come to the museum either half an hour before the opening, or directly to him. This is due to a large influx of visitors. The one who came later will stand in line for several hours or simply will not get into the museum.

How does the Hermitage's Diamond Pantry work? The schedule of her excursions can be found by contacting the information center administrator on the day of the visit. They are hung out and on special stands.

Excursions to the Diamond Room are well organized. After buying the ticket visitors undress in the wardrobe and go to the museum. The group is collected thirty minutes before visiting the storeroom in the foyer of the museum. This place is marked by a large sign. To find it will help and the museum staff. They willingly point to the right place.
An hour and a half lasts a tour, introducing the exhibits that store the Hermitage's Diamond Pantry. Photo of jewelry to visitors is prohibited.