Winter Palace, Faberge Display

[Cathy]

Would anyone know where in the Winter Palace, Nicholas and Alexandra had all the gifts that they distributed to visiting Royals and dignataries. Many of the gifts were Faberge. Was there a vault or a display room and where located or has anyone seen a photograph of such a room.
Thanks
Cathy

[Mike]

They didn't keep such things "at home". There was a special office called His Majesty's Own Cabinet. It belonged to the Ministry of Court and was located in the Nevsky Ave.-facing wing of the Anichkov Palace. One of its jobs was to accumulate and keep jewellery and other items to be presented by the imperial family as gifts on various occasions: from pocket watches with imperial monogram (usually given to servants, peasantry delegates etc.) to precious dinner services, Faberge works and other unique and expensive items intended for foreigh royals and local VIPs.

[Cathy]

Thanks Mike - you provide such detailed information - I really appreciate your posts.
Have any Royal gifts been returned from other countries to Russia to be displayed in Russian museums? Or been sold for private collections?
Cathy