From December 27, 2024 to January 12, 2025, the St. George Hall of the Winter Palace (No. 195) will host the exhibition "Porcelain plates with Russian double-headed eagles from the Kremlin service. Gift of Ekaterina Pavlovna Borodina". Traditionally, the Hermitage's final exhibition of the year presents significant gifts that have been added to the museum's collection over the current year.
In 2024, the State Hermitage Museum received four plates with Russian double-headed eagles from the Kremlin service from the private collection of historical porcelain of Ekaterina Pavlovna Borodina. The items belong to the most spectacular "golden" group of the ceremonial Kremlin service. This service was produced at the Imperial Porcelain Factory in St. Petersburg in 1837-1838, under Emperor Nicholas I, and was intended for the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow.
The service was designed by Fyodor Grigorievich Solntsev, a Russian artist, architect and archaeologist. The decorative solution of the porcelain ensemble in the Russian-Byzantine style reflected the general ideological program laid down in the design of the Kremlin Palace.
When designing the service, the artist was inspired by historical examples - royal gold utensils of the 17th century from the collection of the Moscow Kremlin Armory. The works of applied art are decorated with stylized floral ornamentation. In the center of each plate is placed the Russian coat of arms of the pre-Petrine type, which was approved under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The double-headed eagle, crowned with three crowns, with orb and scepter in its paws, is framed by the inscription "IMPERATOR AND SAMODERGETS OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN NICOLAI". On the reverse side the items are marked with underglaze cobalt stamps representing the monogram "N I" under the imperial crown. Such stamps were placed on all porcelain items produced in Russia during the reign of Nicholas I.
The Kremlin table and dessert set was used to decorate the highest tables until the beginning of the 20th century. Coronation dinners were the most important "outing" of the ensemble. Executed in the Russian-Byzantine style and decorated with state symbols, it was an integral part of festive events that epitomized the triumph of autocracy.
The exhibition was prepared by the History of Russian Culture Department of the State Hermitage Museum.
The exhibition can be visited with an admission ticket to the Main Museum Complex.
.