Moscow, Russia – 09/08 The Kremlin Armoury

(Michelle) Today we went back to the Kremlin to see the Armoury. Once again, I found a museum that had items that I was not expecting to see. Actually, I didn’t know what I had expected to see going in there. You cannot take pictures in there, but I have found some examples on the Armoury’s website. My favorite things in the Armoury:

1. The bibles that were gold plaited with varying shades of blue inlaid in it. I am attaching a link of an example, although this one is not as nice as some of the ones I remember seeing and it is difficult to see the blue colors I am talking about. http://www.kreml.ru/window.asp?ID=536&lang=en
2. The paintings of Mary and little baby Jesus with the jewels sticking out of the painting. While this is not art I would put on my wall (I’ve never much been into the jewels that stick out of the painting theme), it is pretty amazing and quite different. Once again, this example does not do what we saw justice. http://www.kreml.ru/window.asp?ID=538&lang=en
3. There were some really pretty gold chalices with ornate black etchings
4. The Faberge eggs. These are something that I have never taken much interest in before, but the ones they had here were really cool. My favorite was this yellow one with a clock in it. TJ’s favorite was a green one with a train in it (see attached wikipedia link): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Siberian_Railway_%28Faberg%C3%A9_egg%29
5. Walking through the carriage room was like walking back in time. I felt like Cinderella. There was one carriage that actually had sculptures of George slaying the dragon on top of the piece over the wheels.
6. Catherine the Great’s coronation dress with double headed eagles embroidered all over it.
7. The two seated thrown for little boy tsars Peter the Great and Ivan the V.
   

(TJ) I think that Michelle covered quite a few highlights from the Armoury. Since it was an Armoury they also had some very old firearms, swords and of course armour. I found this all very interesting, Michelle not so much. I also enjoyed seeing all of the tributes that other countries would send with their diplomats when they would go to the Russian court. Most of these items were made from silver or gold and ranged from plates and trays to incense burners, all were highly ornate and beautiful. Some of my favorite items were the various crowns and their massive diamonds and precious gems along with some of the Faberge eggs that were on display.