The Amber Room: The Fate of the World's Greatest Lost Treasure

[Belochka]

I recently acquired a small booklet titled: The Amber Room published by Fiodorov Printing, SPb in 2004.

@ p 36 it states:

... "In February - March 1944, the panels of the Amber Room were dismantled and hidden in the basement of the Royal castle. The English bombing of 27 and 29 August ruined the major part of Konigsberg, including the royal complex. However, the decor of the Amber Room, excluding the six lower panels, did not perish. The evacuation of the boxes containing the amber panels from the fighting began. The further destiny of the Amber Room is unknown, although there are many versions suggesting its present whereabouts ...."

No matter where the truth lies at least we can admire the modern Russian masters who re-created this room whose  fine workmanship would compliment the stonecutters of the past.

I was fortunate enough to see this room after its completion and I was awed by its golden glow.

[David_Newell]

I know that the Amber room is areal treasure and I have never seen it either now or when it was being rebuilt. But and oh dear I am going to get it here, I thought it was kind of ugly!!! (ducking and running here!!!) I would much rather have seen the maple room or the mauve boudoir. I think when some authors write about the terrible events of the WWII they do it from the safety of the following years. One thing that Greg and Penny did not do in the FOTR. I felt they understood the rapid changing situation of the Urals in 1918. But I will always be grateful for the dedication to the AP that Kuchumov made. I am sure he had to be very carefull aboutwhat he did. Unless one has lived under a system like Soviet Russia I just don't think we can judge. Bob knew him and I think in that lies the answer.

P.s. Yes Bob spell checker is the marvel of modern life, even AF would have loved it, she couldn't spell either!!!

David Newell, London

[Joanna]

I received this book today and I was stunned with a quick glance to find on page 18 an incredible photograph of Mr. Kuchumov and his wife prior to 1941. It appears they are in front of the Alexander Palace near the ramp to the entrance of the right of the colonade with the windows of the maids rooms and Nicholas' suite in the background. What is truly amazing is that they are standing by the gate that ran the length of the wings that I have seen in photos c1900's!

I am in awe to read in the first pages of the extracts from Mr. Kuchumov's diaries. From my first glimpse of this admirable man in Suzanne Massie's Pavlovsk, I have been intrigued with his life and the curators of Tsarskoye Selo and the other palaces that span the decades after 1917. To know that his diaries and papers survived, of his granddaughter and of others memories, it is hopeful that a biography will one day be written.

Joanna

[Joanna]

To counterbalance the negative implications that have been reported of the reputation of Anatoly Kuchumov, there was printed in the St. Petersburg Times on June 15th Russian cultural figures reaction to the book:

http://www.sptimes.ru/archive/times/977/top/t_12744.htm

Joanna

[Bitoelk]

Just wanted to throw this out and see if anyone has any opinions on the following books  "The Amber Room: The Fate of the World's Greatest Lost Treasure" by Catherine Scott-Clark or "The Romanovs and Mr. Gibbes" by Frances Welch

I saw them the other day and was curious if anyone has read them and what reviews you would give. Thanks bunches!

~Misha~

[Ming]

Have just started reading "The Amber Room".  So far, so good!  Looks very interesting.  However, I have to put it down for awhile until I can get some other demanding work done.  Will get back to you when I can!

[hikaru]

I have found a new book in Petersburg which I liked very very much ( in Russian) .
The book title is "The file of the Amber Room"
The Author is the Movie Director Vitaly Aksyonov.
The printing of the book is very good as well as the content.

[hikaru]

In this book there are a lot of versions.
One of them that  Stalin ordered to make the replica of the Amber room and give the original to Armand Hammer, So the Nazis took the replica. It is written that Kuchumov did not deny the fact that the replica was made. ( But he also did not give any details of this ).

[Mashka-Morgan]

Hikaru, this sounds wonderful!
Does anyone know of any other excellent Amber Room books in English?

M-M

[londo954]

This question is for anyone who read the book ... I am confused
Kuchmanov was unable to move the Amber Room because he was afraid of destroying it
The Germans were able to move it although it arrived in Konigsburg in very bad shape according to the people who saw it on display
Were the panels removed whole or did the Germans figure out how to unlock the puzzle

If I were in Kuchmanov's shoes i would have done exactly the same thing

[joye]

Just wanted to throw this out and see if anyone has any opinions on the following books  "The Amber Room: The Fate of the World's Greatest Lost Treasure" by Catherine Scott-Clark or "The Romanovs and Mr. Gibbes" by Frances Welch
 
I saw them the other day and was curious if anyone has read them and what reviews you would give. Thanks bunches!

~Misha~

This is a simple book, but informative.
I knew the grandson in London, before he went to Canada..
Would love to make contact with him again.