Imperial Court Uniforms of the Nobility

[David_Pritchard]

One might have been inclined to start this thread of discussion under the existing topic of Servants, Retainers, Friends, but considering the rank, responsibilities and personal achievements of the people who held these positions, the topic of Noble Families seemed more appropriate to me.



The Court Dress of a Freilein or in English, a Maiden-in-Waitng to the Empress. Note the Chifre and Bow (upper right) that denotes a lady of the Empress' entourage, circa 1870.



A Kamer-Junker (Equerry) and a Kamer-Padj (Page), circa 1880.



Kammerger (Chamberlin) and a Senator, circa 1880.



Shtalmeister (Master of the Horse), circa end of the 19th century.

All of the above illustrations are from the book Dvoryanskie Rody Rossiiskoi Imperii, Tom Pervyi, Knyazya (Noble Houses of the Russian Empire, First Volume, Princes). Grebelsky & Dumin, 1993

[David_Pritchard]

Uniforms of the Cavaliers and Dames Imperial Russian Orders at the time of Empress Ekaterina II.



For those of you who read Russian, please note that the text concerning the grades of the Order of Saint Catherine are reversed. The text below is correct and is from left to right:

Dame of the Great Cross of the Order of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr.

Cavalier of the Order of Saint Apostle Andrew the First Called.

Dame of the Small Cross of the Order of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr.

Cavalier of the Order of Saint Anna Third Class (Step)

[David_Pritchard]

Full dress uniform of a Cavalier of the Order of Saint Orthodox Prince Aleksander Nevsky from the time of Emperor Pavel I.



Illustration taken from the book Ordena Rossiskoi Imperii 1698-1917(Orders of the Russian Empire 1698-1917) by S.S. Levin.

[David_Pritchard]

Imperial Court Uniforms of the Nobility in the collection of the State Hermitge Museum.



Ceremonial uniform of an Ober- Kammerger (Chief Chamberlain) Circa late 19th century to early 20th century.



Ceremonial uniform of a Kammerger (Chamberlain). Circa late 19th century to early 20th century.