Yesterday I went on a special tour of the 
Hermitage Museum. The Hermitage was started by Empress Cathrine the Great in the 18th Century. It began as her private collection and is now one of the largest museums in the world. The museum is massive in size, I am positive that one person would never be able to view all the amazing art work that is housed there. The tour that I went on was of a newly opened exhibit the " The West European Silver of the 16th-19th centuries in the Alexander Hall." I will start first by saying WOW. This was my first trip into the museum and I was awe struck at the grander that surrounded me. Walking around St. Petersburg I am often left with the thought I can't imagine what Russia was like when it was in all it's glory. Inside the Hermitage is evidence of how breath taking it must have been. Every detail from the inlaid wooden floors to the detailed molding on the ceilings was astounding. Our tour was located in the Alexander Hall- and I am not dismissing what was on display there but the walk to that room was worth the admission all in it's self.
These pictures don't show how large, detailed and beautiful each different room was but you can have an idea of what I saw. The Alexander room where the exhibit I was there to see the "silver collection" was no less beautiful and it was completely filled with silver! Here is a link to the Hermitage's web page describing the exhibit if you are interested in learning about it. http://www.hermitagemuseum.org/html_En/11/2008/hm11_5_56.html
In a nut shell it is one of the largest collections of European silver from the 16th-19th centuries. It was a fascinating collection with too many things to post. Here are a few of my favorites for various reasons!
In a nut shell it is one of the largest collections of European silver from the 16th-19th centuries. It was a fascinating collection with too many things to post. Here are a few of my favorites for various reasons!
Here is a picture of a German beer Stein, and a French wine set. For our Maine viewers this a a pretty neat Lobster pot!
This whole case was silver tea sets, neat idea but I am thinking those cups would have been pretty hot to hold! T
his is a picture of a German wedding cup- it allows a couple to drink from the same glass without spilling a drop of wine! Here is the story behind it http://www.german-toasting-glasses.com/bridal_cups/nuernberg_bridal_cup_story.html
his is a picture of a German wedding cup- it allows a couple to drink from the same glass without spilling a drop of wine! Here is the story behind it http://www.german-toasting-glasses.com/bridal_cups/nuernberg_bridal_cup_story.html
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