Topics

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Tsarskoe Selo Palaces / Peterhof Grand Palace : porcelain fireplace restoration

« on: May 27, 2015, 06:01:54 PM »

" The Peterhof State Museum-Reserve announces fund raising for restoration of the porcelain fireplace in the Grand Peterhof Palace. In order to realize this project we need to collect 6 million rubles.

The chimney set in the Еmpress's Study was considered as one of the bright and surprising articles of arts and crafts of the Grand Peterhof Palace. In 1849 during the repair and restoration works in the Grand Peterhof Palace, conducted by the architect A. I. Stackenschneider, a chimney set was mounted in the Empress's Study. Being notable for its luxury and grace, it became at once the central motive in the décor of this interior. The uniqueness of this set, made at the Imperial Porcelain Factory under the personal command of Emperor Nicholas I, is the fact that all its objects were made of porcelain.

The set included, besides the fireplace itself, a screen, a mirror frame and two candelabra. All the objects were made in the second rococo style with great art skills. Each object of this chimney set was notable for a combination of saturated pink background with fine gold ornamentation and a pattern of flower bouquets. Such a combination not only corresponded to the style, but also characterized the refinement of taste of the palace's owner. The whimsical modeled décor on the mirror frame and portal of the fireplace in the form of stylized foliate sprouts and the chimney screen resembling a spread peacock tail, created a feeling of some magic and fabulousness in the whole interior.

This piece of art by the Russian artisans, unique in its beauty and art skills, adorned the interior of the Grand Peterhof Palace till the Second World War. During the occupation of Peterhof the palace interiors were destroyed. The fireplace did not come unscathed, only separate fragments have survived. Until now the fireplace and chimney set have not been restored, what considerably impoverishes the palace interiors, which were once striking with their magnificence, wealth and refinement."
©State Peterhof Museum Reserve


You can take part in the revival of this unique fireplace and make donation here : http://peterhofmuseum.ru/page.php?id=257

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The Alexander Palace / Artefacts Stolen by Nazis Returned to Tsarskoye Selo and Alexander Palace

« on: October 22, 2014, 08:05:43 AM »

Article from Paul Gilbert's blog Royal Russia (with a video from russian TV) :

"Artefacts Stolen by Nazis Returned to Tsarskoye Selo:

The artefacts arrived from Munich on Monday and presented to the Tsarskoye State Museum Preserve near St. Petersburg. Palace-museum staff compared the original inventory markings on the items, matching them with those on their expansive archival inventories, confirming that they had originated at the Catherine and Alexander Palaces.

A rare book from the personal library of Emperor Alexander I, two vases and an icon which belonged to one of the maids of honour of Russian Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, are among the returned treasures."

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog/1457282/artefacts-stolen-by-nazis-returned-to-tsarskoye-selo/

The two "Art Nouveau" vases and the book from Alexander 1st personnal library:


©Tsarskoie Selo State Museum-Preserve

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The Feodorovski Cathedral & Gorodok / The imperial Farm on Tsarskoye Selo

« on: May 10, 2014, 04:48:33 PM »

Last month the Tsarskoye Selo State Museum Preserve announced the restoration of the Imperial Farm , situated near the Sovereign's Martial Chamber recently restored and open .

Here the article from Paul Gilbert's blog , Royal Russia :

http://www.angelfire.com/pa/ImperialRussian/blog/index.blog/1454277/tsarskoye-selo-to-restore-imperial-farm/

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The Feodorovski Cathedral & Gorodok / The Martial Chamber , World War 1 Museum

« on: February 20, 2014, 11:14:59 AM »

I Post this topic here because the Martial Chamber is situated in the Alexander Park , just a short walk from the Alexander Palace and the Feodorovsky Cathedral .

The Martial Chamber ( Ratnaya Palata ) have been restored like Museum of the Great War , and the official opening is scheduled for August 1 , 2014 , the day marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War .

Paul Gilbert wrote on his blog  Royal Russia  :

 " Saint-Petersburg restorers have completed work on the Marshall Chamber , built more than 100 years ago for the exposition of Russia’s military history .
The Tsarskoye Selo State Museum Preserve will now initiate the preparatory work for the opening of Russia's only museum of the First World War later this year . The historic building was built specifically for the military collection assembled by the philanthropist widow Elena Tretyakova . In 1911 she presented to Emperor Nicholas II , a valuable collection of artefacts illustrating the military history of Russia since ancient times .

The Emperor decided to construct a building at Tsarskoye Selo to house the collection . However , the museum was short-lived, and closed shortly after the Revolution . And now, a century later the Marshall Chamber will be restored to its original function , as a museum dedicated to Russia’s military history , although its new concept will focus specifically on Russia’s role in World War One .

The building itself , established in the Neo-Russian style, is well preserved . The original frescoes and painting have miraculously survived in the interiors . "

You can watch the russian television report here on Youtube , with pictures of the magnificent interiors of these buildings : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhkgszr5JZk

And here , the link to the Martial Chamber on the Tsarskoye Selo-Museum-Preserve official site : http://eng.tzar.ru/museums/palaces/alexander_park/landscape_park/martial

Aerial view of the Martial Chamber.

Photo © Tsarskoye Selo State Museum Preserve