something has puzzled me for a really long time (and i'm
finally getting around to asking!)
there was a "tradition" that seemed to be peculiar to the ladies of Russia & their jewels. (i could be mistaken about this, but i haven't really seen it mentioned in relation to the ladies of europe...)
i'm referring to the way in which they "housed" their jewels. during her trip to st.petersburg while still duchess of Marlborough, Consuelo Vanderbilt describes, in her book THE GLITTER AND THE GOLD, her visit to the Vladimir palace. during the course of the evening, the grand duchess Vladimir invited her into her private apartments.
Conseulo's description of the grand duchess' jewels is relatively well known. now here's my question:
did any of the jewel cabinets (or "cases") survive? has anyone seen them? does anyone have a photo?
Consuelo's description went something like, "the grand duchess showed me her jewels, which were displayed "long cases" in her bedroom." (i may not have it exactly right, but i don't have the book in front of me).
it seems that displaying one's jewelry was a fairly common practice peculiar to Russia. i believe that queen Alexandra had adopted the practice after seeing her sister (MF) display her jewels this way.
Feliks Yusupov mentions in his book LOST SPLENDOR, that one of the renovations he was having carried-out for Irina, was a strong-room with cases for her jewels.
ealier in the book, while describing his mother's apartments in the Moika palace, he states "her bedroom was hung with blue damask, the furniture was of inlaid rosewood; long cabinets contained her jewels. on reception days, the doors were left open, and everyone could admire her jewels."
i've seen the jewel-cabinets of their european counterparts (such as the fantastic cabinet of marie-antionette at versailles -- huge, heavy gilded wood....very solid. no sense of "display"ing the jewelry at all. more like "once it's in there, it's STAYING in there!").
i've always been left with the impression these russian jewel cases/cabinets were more like vitrines or jewelry-store display cases. i think i may be somewhat off-the-mark with that last one, but i'm chomping-at-the-bit to actually
SEE[/i] an example of one.
someone here should have an answer or, at least, have an idea or will hazard a guess?
thanks y'all
