Six of us went to the Armoury Museum at the Kremlin today. They don't allow pictures, so words will have to suffice. It was the most amazing display of opulence I remember ever seeing.
The first room had a lot of large cases to hold the Bible - made of gold and silver and decorated with engravings, precious stones, and enamel. Each item was decorated with hundreds of precious stones ranging in size from the head of a pin to a ping pong ball. Famous in the collection are a number of faberge eggs that were often given as gifts among Royalty. They are colorful and intricately patterned on the outside, and each has a surprise inside. One is a music box, another contains a tiny working train, and another holds a ship that is an exact replica of one that was used to sail around the world. I was fascinated by a collection of intricately carved gold and silver castles that were actually incense burners, and the smoke would rise through the windows in the castles. There were samovars and tea sets and plates, all shiny and colorful and intricately designed. There was a room of weapons and armor including swords and rifles, decorated not only on their handles but all along the blade or barrel. Some were inlaid with stones or enamel; others were engraved. I learned that the average coat of armor weighed 30 kilograms! There was a room of dressings for horses - bridles and saddles decorated with silver and gold and precious stones. One of the saddles had tassles all the way around it made of silver thread (not silver-colored; made of silver). Downstairs, there was a large room of clothing and tapestries and crowns. Most of the clothing was decorated with pearls as well as gold and silver thread and precious stones. The pearls and precious stones were not sparsely distributed but rather arranged like kernels on corn on the cob: right next to each other and all over each garment. Sometimes they were arranged into desings, but when this was the case, the garment was decorated in the open spaces with gold and silver thread or small plates painted with cherubs. The clothing was very colorful. There was a throne room; one throne was decorated entirely with carved ivory; another was made for czars who were brothers: a 10-year-old and a 14-year old (history buffs? I don't remember their names...). The frame was ornately carved wood and the seat was plush red velvet, and into the back of each chair was a window where a tutor could peek through and instruct the boys how to receive guests.
I think the highlight of the museum was the carriage room. It was full of carriages that were more spectacular than I imagine Cinderella's carriage would be. One was a sled that was pulled by 23 horses. There were 3 small ones used for children that were pulled by ponies and attended by dwarves! The rest were chariots whose wheels were as tall as me and whose bodies made the room look small. Like everything else in the museum, they were intricately carved and adorned with silver and gold and elaborate paintings. It was like being in a fairy tale for the day.
Sounds overwhelmingly beautiful Jenny.
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