Messages

1

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Imperial Crimea

« on: January 27, 2018, 11:18:41 PM »

I couldn’t recommend or praise this work high enough. There’s nothing in English (and probably in Russian either) to equal this compilation of articles. Truly, absolutely outstanding, and absolute MUST for anyone who wants to know what the Crimea was and meant for the Romanovs and even more. Five Stars

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Tsarskoe Selo Town / Re: The train station at Tsarskoe Selo

« on: January 27, 2018, 09:52:37 PM »

Well, the pavilion interiors were actually rather grand. Not in my humble opinion feasible for reconstruction really, the fabrics etc. Notwithstanding, the ceilings, frescoes and etc should be done and preserved. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to see the whole thing recreated, just trying to be realistic for once 😊

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Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: The Amber Room of the Catherine Palace

« on: January 15, 2018, 05:29:00 PM »

I’ve pmed you on the subject Joanna!

Regards,

Antonio

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Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: War Damage of Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof

« on: October 03, 2013, 05:38:46 PM »

The back of Nicholas´ train interior is dated, or so it seems to me, 27/9/41. Maybe they took pictures of everything they deemed of interest. Who knows. The only thing I can say is that the pictures don´t come from a private collection, they were in some sort of archive at some point. I cannot read German, but they´re all stamped at the back "Militarisch und politisch unzensiert". Isn´t that akin to saying "Milira and Politically Uncensored" ??

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Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: War Damage of Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof

« on: October 01, 2013, 07:37:12 AM »

Dear Antonio , it's my pleasure too : these photos are a rare and precious treasure .

I would like to bring my humble contribution to this topic : it's an original photo stereoview I own ( bought in a secondhand market a few years ago in Bordeaux , France , where I live ) , dating probably between 1941-1944 .We can see the Peter-and-Paul cathedral of Peterhof , and in the foreground a ruined building , probably destroyed by bombing but i don't know what was it ..



I'm sorry for the bad quality of this scan , the original is better  :-(

That ruined building is what makes you pic you much interesting than mine. Mine is just a close up(an extremely good good, granted) of the cathedral. But yours, well, yours is just telling us a bit more. Give me yours anytime!!! :-) That is, unles we were talking about the AP.......

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Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: War Damage of Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof

« on: October 01, 2013, 03:30:59 AM »

Dear Alexandre,

That picture has nothing humble about it, it´s actually great!! I have only one of that cathedral in peterhof but nothing of the surrounding area. And you know every single bit counts!! :-)

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Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: War Damage of Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof

« on: October 01, 2013, 02:39:26 AM »

Dear Alexandre,

Don´t worry, the originals are rather big for the time, pristine and full of details. I´m only trying to find a way to scan them properly, but they are infinitely better believe you me. And thank you for the kind remarks, its really my pleasure :-)

All the best,

Antonio

8

Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: War Damage of Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof

« on: October 01, 2013, 12:07:25 AM »

Dear Akira,

He didn´t actually take these pics, the only ones he took back home were ones I don´t think are fit for posting. They were just a few portraying erotic pieces of furniture. Quite graphic I´m forced to admit. I keep them, but just in case they´ll be of any use in future. And yes, he survived the war, even despite of the truly frightful retreat. In any case he went them not as a soldier but just as a veterinary, so I guess he didn´t have to put up or even risk a lot!!

Regards,

Antonio

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Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: War Damage of Tsarskoe Selo and Peterhof

« on: September 30, 2013, 10:13:29 PM »

Hello Alexandre,

The chimney is from the Lyon Drawing Room.

Regards,

Antonio

10

Servants, Friends and Retainers / Re: N. P. Sablin

« on: September 29, 2013, 03:28:02 AM »

I´m sure to appear cruel and overdramatic, but, sincerely. We have Lily Dehn, for instance, who showed a real fidelity to her Empress(notwithstanding her own bay). Also the Princess de Lamballe comes to my mind in this matter. I´m sorry but I still think one´s ideals are worthier than one´s earthly life.

11

The Alexander Palace / Re: Help ID-ing various rooms

« on: February 12, 2006, 10:24:01 AM »

Photo 3 cannot be the mauve boudoir. See the wall hangings to the left of Anastasia.

Photo 9 was taken in the Old Palace of Livadia.

Photo 12 is not from the AP, it was taken in the children´s rooms of Lower Palace.

Photographs 7 and 8 cannot be the grand duchesses´ classroom at the AP. It reminds me of Livadia but cannot tell for sure without checking a couple of books.

12

Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Reprinted

« on: February 04, 2006, 05:25:25 AM »

Hi Margarita

There´s no need at all to feel embarrassed, we all have errors from time to time! It´s just that i get a bit puzzled remembering how strange sometimes seemed to me Alexandra´s english in those letters.

Best,

Antonio.

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Books about the Romanovs and Imperial Russia / Re: Reprinted

« on: February 03, 2006, 05:07:01 PM »

The Complete Wartime Correspondence, by N & A

. This compilation although it relies on translation (unless you own the Russian language copy) - is more valuable as a research tool and offers a first-hand account of personal events and feelings.

Hello Belochka,

What do you mean with the above??? I mean, ALL of the letters were written IN ENGLISH, as were the major part of the telegrams. So the only edition that would RELY on translation should be the russian one.

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Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Re: Catherine Palace, Tsarskoe Selo, today

« on: August 17, 2005, 11:27:06 AM »

Antonio, has there been any attempt to at least keep the water out of the roof area that collapsed? A tarp or plastic, or anything? Or is that hoping for too much. So sorry to hear the news your post contained.

Dear Melissa,

I´m afraid i cannot tell for sure. Besides, that part of the palace just looked so totally neglected.

Let us hope they are repairing it now...

15

Their World and Culture / Re: Architecture and Interior Design in Europe and Russia

« on: August 16, 2005, 02:30:42 PM »

Hi everybody

Well, speaking about the stuffed parrots and exquisite taste of the Dowager Empress, a friend reminded me of some first hand account that could be of interest. It comes from Louis de Robien´s memoirs, page 188, :

       "It is incredible that these people can have lived surrounded by such bric-à-brac, when they could have had the most beautiful things in the world: there were Japanese screens from the bazaars, portraits done from photographs like the ones one sees in concierges¹ lodges, stuffed monkeys under glass domes, and the most hideous furniture.  The horror of the objects transported there is almost unbelievable, and they were part of the surroundings of the Dowager Empress of All the Russias!  In the heap I saw a magnificent Chinese cloisonné enamel, mounted as a jardinière with metalwork from an ironmonger¹s and further on a ravishing 18th Century terracotta statuette with a wonderful patina, mounted on a pedestal made of parrot green plush."