#apex the kremlin gallery

[joao-gomes-blog]

The Rock Crystal Egg or Revolving Miniatures Egg is an Imperial Fabergé egg, one in a series of fifty-two jeweled eggs made under the supervision of Peter Carl Fabergé for the Russian Imperial family. It was created in 1896 for Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. The egg currently resides in the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts.The egg was created by Faberge's workmaster, Mikhail Evlampievich Perkhin (Russian, 1860–1903) with miniatures by Johannes Zehngraf (Danish, 1857–1908)[2] It stands about 248 mm (9 3/4 in) tall on its stand, with a diameter of 98 mm (3 7/8 in.)[3] The outer shell is rock crystal banded with emerald-green enameled gold studded with diamonds. On the apex of the egg is a 27-carat (5.4 g) Siberian emerald supported by an emerald-green enameled gold mount. This cabochon-style emerald is one of the largest gemstones Fabergé used in any of the Imperial eggs.[4] The egg's base sits on a plinth of rock crystal. The base consists of a colorfully enameled gold double spheroid which is circled twice with rose-cut diamonds. It has the monograms of the Tsarina, as the Princess Alix of Hesse-Darmstadt before her marriage, and later as Alexandra Fedorovna, Empress of Russia. Each monogram is surmounted with a diamond crown of the respective royal house.[4] These monograms form a continuous pattern around the base of the egg.Inside the rock crystal egg is a gold support holding twelve miniature paintings. The paintings are of the various palaces and residences that were significant to the Empress. Each location holds a special memory for Nicholas and Alexandra in the early days of their courtship, as they had just been married two years prior, in 1894.

When the large cabochon emerald on the apex is depressed it engages a mechanism that rotates the miniatures inside the egg. A hook moves down and folds the framed pictures back, like the pages of a book, so two paintings can be fully seen at one time.[1] Each miniature is framed in gold with an emerald on the apex. The frames are attached to a central fluted gold shaft which passes vertically through the egg.[4]

The locations include:

The Neues Palais, Darmstadt, Germany: Palace where the Empress was born.

Kranichstein, Hesse: A favorite summer residence of the Empress' youth.

Balmoral Castle, Scotland: Childhood holiday destination of Alexandra's grandmother, Queen Victoria.

Old Grand Ducal Palace (Altes Palais), Darmstadt: Official seat of Alexandra's father, Ludwig IV, Grand Duke of Hesse.

Wolfsgarten, Hesse: Hunting lodge Alexandra's family visited as a child.

Windsor Castle, near London, England: A residence of Queen Victoria where Alexandra visited as a child.

Palace Church, Coburg: Site where Alexandra first consented to marry Nicholas.

Schloss Rosenau, Coburg: A site Nicholas and Alexandra visited the day after their engagement.

Osborne House, Isle of Wight: Site of Nicholas' visit to see Alexandra while they were engaged.

The Winter Palace, St. Petersburg: The site of Nicholas and Alexandra's wedding.

Anichkov Palace, St. Petersburg: Residence of Maria Feodorovna, where Alexandra spent her first year in Russia.

The Alexander Palace, Tsarskoe Selo, near St. Petersburg: the Imperial family's favorite winter residence.The egg was presented by Nicholas II to Alexandra Fedorovna on March 24, 1896. She received it at Eastertide in the same year that the young couple had suddenly ascended the throne.[1]

In 1909 the egg was housed in the Empress' study in the Winter Palace. The egg was seized by the Kerensky Provisional Government and moved to the Armory Palace of the Kremlin in Moscow along with approximately 40 other eggs. In 1930, the Rock Crystal Egg was one of the ten Eggs sold by the Antikvariat (Trade Department) to the Hammer Galleries in New York for 8000 rubles, or approximately $4000 U.S. In 1945 the egg became the last of five Imperial Easter Eggs bought by Lillian Thomas Pratt, the wife of a General Motors executive John Lee Pratt. Upon Lillian Thomas Pratt's death in 1947, the egg was willed to Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Virginia. It remains on view as part of the Virginia Museum of Fine Art's European Decorative Art collection

[whatdoesshedotothem]

Sunday 16 February 1840

7 40/..

12 35/..

i.e. 7 40/.. by the clocks here by which time we must now go – trying to read the Russian affiche over my door – the price of wines, etc. Donskoe at 4/. the bottle – very fine sunny morning breakfast at 9 50/.. – George said when I called him at 8 to see about a traineau that it was R-25° out of doors – breakfast in an hour – out at 11 ½ - the traineau not quite ready but came to us at the Kremlin at 11 ¾ - went into the 1st church – could not see much – full of poor people came away – got into our traineau and drove to the convent des femmes where is the famous vierge de Kazan – the superior not at home .:. could not see the summer church of large, handsome exterior but went into the winter church where the richly coiffed vierge sojourns during this season – her every day coiffure = 60,000/. but her dress one = ten times that sum one diamond in it is, worth 60,000/. – all this in the trésor which we may see on application to the supérieure – the church not very lofty but well proportioned and handsome – the vaulted ceiling of the nave painted (dark blue outline) in square panels with a patera in the centre of each – one arcade parted off for the vestibule – 4 arcades over which a balustrade gallery for the [men] in the nave, and then the handsome dome springing from 4 large arches and close beyond this dome the Iconostase and apparently the same length as the nave and vestibule (i.e. 5 arcades length) taken up by the préstole (altar) and its appurtenances – the space left all in one – not divided as in general into 3, the middle for the altar, and the 2 rooms, one on each side, for the priests – a sort of vestry – gave the nun who civilly shewed us the virgin a ten s. kop. piece which seemed to be enough for the little she had done – the exterior of the wall that encloses this convent is strikingly tartar and picturesque the curtain between each pair of broad pilasters has a pointed equilateral triangular battlement with a double round topped loop-hole recess under each apex i.e. there is on recess within another – each of about 6in. deep – brick work whitewashed – the effect on these tartar walls and buildings depends much up these brick work recesses and mouldings, and plaster work, and paint – there seems to be not much left that was here in Tartar times except an old tower and some other building near to it that George said was a tartar mosque and fort – the tower is brick – in decay – in 5 or 6 retiring grades crowned with a pyramid, very picturesque

SH:7/ML/E/24/00017

we then drove to a mosque – open – service – went in for a minute or 2 – only the people – the priest not arrived – plain and carpeted – much the same as at Moscow, but the exterior arabesque i.e. ornamented à la Tartare – a square on arches, and mouldings about the windows and a picturesque looking building but rather cracking and seeming to want some repairs – then drove along the Tartar town along the Kasanka [Kazanka] river, and pursued its bed and drove all round that side of the town in the bed of river for some distance – drove under the modern square tower built in the spot where the breach was made when the Russians took the town from the Tartars in 1552 – interesting – came back to the town up one of the deep clefts in the high sand-rock on which the town and fort-walls are here built – then when on the hill, turned left a little way and passed under the curious gateway to the great Road to Perm and Siberia – nearly opposite this gateway at a little distance is the handsome large pile of building, the military hospital, and not far off on the same side as the Siberia gate is a church and the large cemetery of the town – drove a little way on this great road – but on this high ground the wind so piercing that we turned back – nothing to be seen forwards towards Siberia but one wide plain with hardly any wood upon it – on our return drove to the Raskolnick [Raskolink] a small rather Russian Greek like church of no great appearance situated in a court, and not far from the Boutanka canal – passed the back (the [?] part) and in the long line of handsome front of the university in returning – it is a long line with a 12 columned pediment in the middle and terminated by a 6 columned pediment at each end – the street in which is the university seems long and handsome (the handsomest in the town?) and the other good streets seem to run parallel with it – the general governor’s house is in the university street – but it seems professor Evermanns’ house is somewhere near the Siberia gate – and Madame Lapteffs’ somewhere near the convent des femmes? home at 2 55/.. – a little benumbed with the cold against which my head not being sufficiently guaranteed, I had to hold tight the satin wadded bonnet every now and then which benumbed my hands – amused? with the style of countess A. Panins’ letter to her cousin and copied it  see the other end this book  her manner of mentioning us is not the nicest?   she calls A- my companion   but she deserves this ssince she would not be pleased to be thought my niece   the fact is   she has sso little that is talking about her  that they know not what to make of her   especially as she is no relation   princess R- once asked why I had such a person  so unsuited but I passed it over and she had too much tact ever to repeat the observation  I said I could

not do without her  she kept house    for me   not everyone would travel about with me and I must have someone – at 4 ½ sent by George Mr. Boutourlines’ letter M. B- à son excellence monsieur le général, Strekeleff aide de camp général de S.M. l’Empereur, gouverneur militaire de Kazan etc. etc, à Kazan

Mr. Fischer à monsieur le Professeur, d’Eversmann, à Casan. de la part, de G. Fischer

Countess A. Panin. Madame, Madame de Lapteff,à Kazan. this letter being unsealed put it under sealed cover with A-‘s card and my own – and sent A-‘s and my own also chez le général gouverner – but merely the letter to the professor – then changed my dress and had my hair done – dinner at 5 ¼ - a dinner complete Russe, pour une personne just enough for us two = 2/50 and had a bottle of Donskoi wine 4/. to drank the happy return of the 10th instant – the véritable sixth anniversary we dined chez le général gouverner of and at Nijeni [Nižnij] – drank health to A-‘s sister and her family and her aunt, and Marian – and all our friends round the Wrekin – our friends at Nijeny [Nižnij] and prince George of Georgia – our friends at Moscow and la charmante princess R- our own queen, and the emperor and empress and Imperial family – the wine good – the champagne? they have given us at every dinner? then till now 10 ½ (tea at 8 in about ½ hour) wrote the whole of today – sat up looking at map of Russia and the few notes I have brought – unluckily I have left all behind at Moscow my notes from Lord Royston cum multis aliis!!! It is useless to give myself the trouble of making notes for a journey if I thus leave them –

[anne-lister-adventures]

Sunday, 16 February 1840

7 40/’’

12 35/’’

i.e. 7 40/’’ by the clocks here by which time we must now go – Trying to read the Russian Affiche over my door – The price of wines, &c. Donskoi at 4/- the bottle – Very fine sunny morning – Breakfast at 9 50/’’ George said when I called him at 9 to see about a Traineau that it was Reaumur -25º out of doors – Breakfast in an hour – 

Out at 11 1/2 – The Traineau not quite ready but came to us at the Kremlin at 11 3/4 – Went into the 1st church – Could not see much – Full of poor people came away – Got into our Traineau and drove to the Convent des Femmes where is the famous Vierge de Kazan – The superior not at home ∴[therefore] could not see the summer church of large, handsome exterior but went into the winter church where the richly coiffed Vierge sojourns during this  season – 

The Bogoroditsky Monastery where Anne and Ann saw the Mother of God of Kazan. Lithograph by Professor Edward Turnerelli.

Her every day coiffure = 60,000/- but her dress one = ten times that sum one diamond in it is worth 60,000/- - All this in the Trésor which we may see on application to the supérieure – The church not very lofty but well proportioned and handsome – The vaulted ceiling of the nave painted (dark blue outline) in square panels with a patera in the centre of each – 

Copy of the Mother of God of Kazan. The original was allegedly stolen and destroyed.

One arcade parted off for the vestibule – 4 arcades over which a balustraded gallery for the nuns in the nave; and then the handsome dome springing from 4 large arches and close beyond this dome the iconostase and apparently the same length as the nave and vestibule, i.e. 5 arcades length, taken up by the préstole (altar) and its appurtenances – the space left all in one – Not divided as in general into 3, the middle for the altar, and the 2 rooms, one on each side, for the priests, - A sort of vestry – 

Gave the nun who civilly shewed us the Virgin a ten S.[Silver] Kopek piece which seemed to be enough for the little she had done – The exterior of the wall that encloses this convent is strikingly tartar and picturesque

the curtain between each pair of broad pilasters has a pointed Equilateral Triangular battlement with a double round topped loop-hole recess under each apex i.e.

there is one recess within another – Each of about 6 in.[inches] deep – Brick work white washed – The effect of these Tartar walls and buildings depends much up these brick work recesses and mouldings, and plasterwork, and paint –

There seems to be not much left that was here in Tartar Times except an old Tower and some other building near to it that George said was a Tartar Mosque and Fort – The tower is brick – In decay – In 5 or 6 retiring grades crowned with a pyramid, very picturesque – 

The Söyembikä Tower is likely the building Anne described, which is presented here in a lithograph by Professor Edward Turnerelli.

We then drove to a Mosque – Open – Service – Went in for a minute or 2 – Only the people – The priest not arrived – Plain and carpeted – Much the same as at Moscow, but the exterior arabesque i.e. ornamented à la Tatar – A square on arches, and mouldings about the windows and a picturesque looking building but rather cracking and seeming to want some repairs – 

The Apanaeev Mosque, here seen in a lithograph by Professor Turnerelli, was one of the mosques in Kazan at the time Anne and Ann visited the city. The style is similar to what Anne describes, though it’s possible that this wasn’t the mosque they visited.

Then drove along the Tartar Town along the Kasanka river, and pursued its bed and drove all round that side of the Town in the bed of river for some distance – Drove under the modern square Tower built on the spot where the breach was made when the Russians took the town from the Tartars in 1552 – Interesting – 

Came back to the Town up one of the deep clefts in the high sand-rock on which the Town and fort-walls are here built – Then when on the hill, turned left a little way and passed under the curves gateway to the Great Road to Perm and Siberia – Nearly opposite this gateway at a little distance is the handsome large pile of building, the military hospital, and not far off on the same side as the Siberia Gate is a church and the large cemetery of the Town – Drove a little way on this great road – But on this high ground the wind so piercing that we turned back – Nothing to be seen forwards towards Siberia but one wide plain with hardly any wood upon it – 

On our return drove to the Raskolmick church a small rather Russian Greek like church of no great appearance situated in a court, and not far from the Boutanka Canal – Passed the back, the observatory part, and the long line of handsome front of the university in returning – It is a long line with a 12 columned pediment in the middle and terminated by a 6 columned pediment at each end – The street in which is the University seems long and handsome (the handsomest in the Town?) and the other good streets seem to run parallel with it –

The Kazan University in 1832.

The General Governor’s House is in the University Street – But it seems Professor Eversmann’s house is somewhere near the Siberia Gate – And Madame Lapteff’s somewhere near the Convent des Femmes? 

Home at 2 55/’’ – A little benumbed with the cold, against which my head not being sufficiently guaranteed, I had to hold tight the satin wadded bonnet every now and then which benumbed my hands – 

Amused? With the style of countess A[Alexandrine] Panin’s letter to her cousin and copied it       see the other end this book    her manner of mentioning us is not the nicest?        She calls A[Ann] my companion       but she deserves this ssince she would not be pleased to be thought my niece        the fact is             she has sso little that is taking about her that they know not what to make of her      especially as she is no relation princess RRadziwil once asked why I had such a person so unsuited but I passed it over and she had too much tact ever to repeat the observation     I said I could not do without her she kept house for me not everyone would travel about with me and I must have someone – 

At 4 1/2 sent by George Mr. Boutourline’s letter

M.[Monsieur] B-[Boutourline]         À Son Excellence, Monsieur le Général, Strekeleff Aide de Camp General de S.[Sa] M.[Majesté] L’Empereur, Gouverneur Militaire de Kazan &c. &c.   à Kazan.

Mr. Fischer.                                        À Momnsieur le Professeur, d’Eversmann, à Casan. De la part, de G. Fischer.

Countess A.[Alexandrine] Panin       Madame, Madame de Lapteff, à Kazan.

This letter being unsealed put it under sealed cover with A-‘s[Ann’s] card and my own – And sent A-‘s[Ann’s] and my own also chez le General Gouverneur – But merely the letter to the Professor – 

Then changed my dress and had my hair done – Dinner at 5 1/4 – A diner complet Russe, pour une personne just enough for us two = 2/50 and had a bottle of Donskoi wine 4/- to drink the happy returns of the 10th inst. – 

The véritable sixth anniversary we dined chez le General Gouverneur of and at Nijeni – Drank health to A-‘s[Ann’s] sister and her family and her Aunt, and Marian – And all our friends round the Wrekin – Our friends at Nijney and Prince George of Georgia – Our friends at Moscow and La Charmante Princess R-[Radziwil] our own Queen, and the Emperor and Empress and Imperial Family –The wine good – The champagne? They have given us at every dinner? 

Then till now 10 1/2 (tea at 8 in about 1/2 hour) wrote the whole of today – Sat up looking at Map of Russia and the few notes I have brought – Unluckily I have left behind at Moscow all my notes from Lord Royston cum multis aliis!!! It is useless to give myself the trouble of making notes for a journey if I thus leave them –

[in the margin of the page:]             Picturesque wall

Page References:  SH:7/ML/E/24/0016 and  SH:7/ML/E/24/0017

#anne lister code breaker #anne lister #ann walker #moscow to baku 1840