The Armoury Treasury of the Russian Sovereigns

Helmet – "Jericho Cap"
Turkey. XVIth century.
Damask steel, precious stones, turquoise, fabric, silver, gold.
Forging, chasing, gold damascening, carving.

Belonged to boyar Prince F. Mstislabskiy.
Chain mail
Russia (?).
XVIth - XVIIth centuries.
Iron.

Forging, riveting, welding.
Plated chain mail (Bakhterets) of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich
Russia, Moscow. 1620.
Armoury.
Craftsman: Konon Mikhailov.
Silver, iron.
Forging, chasing, gold damascening.
Saadak of the "Grand Attire" of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich
(Quiver and bowcase with strap)
Turkey, Istanbul. 1656.
Gold, silver, precious stones, leather, brocade.
Carving, enamel, chasing, embroidery.

Bought from Constantinople merchant D. Constantinov in 1656.
Saddle flintlock pistols
Russia, Moscow. First quarter of XVIIth century. Armoury.
Craftsman: Pervusha Isaev.
Silver, steel, wood, mother-of-pearl.
Inlay, engraving, gilding, silvering, forging.
Ambassadorial axes
Russia, Moscow.
First half of XVIIth century.
Gold, silver, damask steel, turquoise, wood.
Forging, carving, gold damascening, chasing, flat-chasing, gilding, filigree.
Ceremonial partisan
Moscow, 1650s - 1660s. Armoury.
Iron, wood, fabric.
Forging, carving, engraving.
Ceremonial mace of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich (detail)
Turkey.
First half of XVIIth century.
Gold, wood, jasper, rubies, emeralds, turquoise.
Carving, inlay.
Dagger in sheath of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich
Iran.
First half of XVIIth century.
Gold, rubies, damask steel, wood, glass, pearl, turquoise.
Forging, carving, embossing, filigree, flat-chasing.
Ceremonial shield of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich
Turkey, Istanbul.
Mid XVIIth century.
Reed, satin, velvet, silver threads, silver, nephrite, turquoise, gems, pearl, glasses, braid.

Braiding, weaving, carving, chasing, inlay, gilding.
Frontlet for a horse (reshma)
Russia, Moscow. Workshops of the Moscow Kremlin.
XVIIth century.
Gold, silver, precious stones.
Stamping, chasing.
Saddle
Turkey.
Middle of XVIIth century.
Gold, silver, copper, iron, wood, leather, precious stones, pearl, gilded threads, velvet.
Chasing, gilding, embroidery, weaving.
Painting "Portrait of Peter the Great in a suit of armour"
Russia.
XIXth century.
Author: Unknown artist.
Canvas, wood.
Oil.
Hunting harquebus
(was in possession of Tsar Peter I).
Russia, Moscow. 1692. Armoury. Silver, wood, bone, mother-of-pearl, iron. Forging, engraving, inlay, carving, blueing, chasing, silver damascening.
Sabre in scabbard of Tsar Ivan Alexeevich
Turkey, Istanbul.
Second half of XVIIth century.
Gold, damask steel, precious stones, wood, leather, gemstones, silver threads.
Forging, carving, engraving, flat-chasing, repousse, enamel, inlay.
Cartridge box (lyadunka)
Russia.
First quarter of XVIIIth century.
Wood, leather, fabric, braid.
Carving, embroidery.
Caftan of Emperor Peter II
France.
1727-1730.
Fabric, silk, silver thread, gold thread.
Weaving, embroidery.
Flintlock gun, with ramrod
Russia, Sestroretsk. Sestroretsk Armoury Factory.
1735.
Steel, silver, wood, iron.
Forging, engraving, gilding, carving.
Painting “Portrait of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna”
Russia.
XIXth century.
Author: Unknown artist.
Canvas, wood.
Oil.
Powder flask
Russia.
Mid XVIIIth century.
Wood, leather, fabric, braid.
Casting, chasing, flat-chasing, engraving.
First Class Cross of the Order of St. Catherine, with a bow
Russia.
Second half of XIXth century.
Gold, silver, precious stones, silk.
Casting, enamel, filigree, weaving, embroidery.
Hunting dirk in sheath
Europe (blade/sheath), India (hilt).
XVIIIth century.
Gold, precious stones, steel, wood, leather, nephrite.
Forging, inlay, enamel, stamping.

July, 04, 2015 - October, 10, 2015

PRC, Shanghai, The Shanghai Museum

Organised by:: The Shanghai Museum, The Moscow Kremlin Museums

Helmet – The exhibition “The Armoury Treasury of the Russian Sovereigns” begins a new chapter in the cultural cooperation between Russia and China, familiarizing the Chinese audience and all the visitors of the beautiful Shanghai Museum with the Armoury treasury of the Russian sovereigns of the XVIIth – XVIIIth centuries. Being the main court workshop as well as the Arsenal of the Russian tsars, the Armoury chamber forms the historical core of the Moscow Kremlin Museums’ collection. And it’s the Armoury chamber that gave the name to our museum from the day of its foundation in early XIXth century, being also a source of the best traditions and specific features of the Russian armourer’s art. Carefully preserved by the Kremlin Museums the unique monuments represent a full image of the Royal and Imperial arms, which has been forming during more than two hundred years in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The Armoury Chamber’s collections comprise great variety of art pieces from different centers of the Russian, Eastern and European arms-making, as well as leading schools and masters, rare technologies and designs, items of jewellery decoration and sophisticated adornments of cold steel, firearms and armour.

The collection reflects peculiarities of the history of the Russian Empire and the royal Romanov dynasty. It also represents the court culture with the magnificent tsar and imperial processions, hunting amusements of the Russian sovereigns, their court and military ceremonies, tastes of monarchs and court aristocrats, forming their inner circle.

The exhibition is intended to demonstrate the riches of the Russian sovereigns’ arms collection and to introduce the audience to its formation during the period of XVIIth – XVIIIth centuries. The splendid collection represents all the gorgeousness of the royal and imperial arsenal, such as ceremonial, hunting and service weapons as well as armours from different countries and epochs. There are more than 120 unique relics of the highest historic, artistic, memorial and material value displayed at the exhibition.

The exposition comprises two main parts – “The Royal Armoury Chamber in the XVIIth century” and “Arms collection of the Russian Emperors of the XVIIIth century”. The first part of the exhibition represents two groups of relics, demonstrating the Sovereign’s military attire and arms of a sovereign’s servant. Regiments and arms of the ceremonial guards of the Russian sovereigns deserve a separate notice.

The second part of the exposition is devoted to the collection of the arms of the Russian sovereigns of the XVIIIth century. It incorporates a group of arms and horse harness pieces, which belonged to members of the Russian royal and imperial family in order of their reign.

The exhibition “The Armoury Treasury of the Russian Sovereigns” is worth visiting for everyone interested in familiarizing oneself with riches of the Moscow Kremlin Museum’s collections and Russia as a whole that will hopefully be represented in China many more times in the future.