The Treasure Gallery
18 May 2002 - ongoing

The exhibition of jewelry introduces the visitor to the collection of works dating from the 3rd millenium BC to the early 20th century AD.
The first and second rooms show works of primitive and ancient art. The exhibition includes three big hoards, from the Maikop barrow, Staromyshatovsky treasure and stanitsa Novosvobodnaya. The largest collection of objects made from precious metals comes from the Maikop barrow; its richness may be rivaled only by the famous Micenean burials in Greece.
The third room contains Byzantine and post-Byzantine applied arts of the 6th-18th centuries and West European applied arts of the Middle Ages. The golden necklace with a medallion from the Mersinsky treasure dating from the second half of the 6th century is a unique Byzantine artifact. The agate bowl decorated with gems made in the unique Byzantine technique of striking wire into stone dating from the late 12th - early 13th centuries is remarkable among the Middle Byzantine things. One of outstanding artifacts in both the Hermitage collection and Gothic art as a whole is the Freiburg Cross (13th century). Another interesting medieval exhibit is the reliquary in the from of the figure of the dean St. Stephen (France, late 12th century), masterpiece in the collection of West European applied art. The Kunnersdorf Cross holds its place of honor in the section of Russian jewelry. It was made to commemorate the victory of the Russian Army by Frankfurt-an-der-Oder, one of the best known battles of the Seven Years' War (1756-1762).
The fourth room introduces collections of rock crystal and stone vessels of European masters of the 16th and 17th centuries, fanciful pendants from pearls and precious stones of Renaissance masters and watches of the 17th century.
Gifts of diplomats, luxury weapons and walking sticks once owned by members of the Imperial Family are showed apart.
The fifth room shows the 18th-20th centuries jewelry. Most of the exhibits come from the Jewelry Gallery of the Winter Palace. The exhibition is chronological. Art of German goldsmiths is represented by statuettes, decorations and the unique toilet service of the Empress Anna Ioannovna made in the Augsburg atelier of Johann Ludwig Biller II (1730s). The collection of clocks and watches includes works of English, French and Swiss masters. Special section in the exhibition is given to the St. Petersburg jewelry school including works of Jean-Pierre Ador, Jean Jacques Duc, Duvals, the Theremin brothers and Keibels from the late 18th - early 19th centuries. The late 19th - early 20th centuries section shows works of Rene-Jules Lalique and the atelier of Carl Faberge whose name is associated with the new golden age of the St. Petersburg jewelry school. Faberge's models of the Imperial regalia won grand prix at the Paris International Exhibition of 1900.

Figurine of a Bull
Early Bronze Age
Larger view

Jug
Early 17th century
Larger view

Statuette The Halberdier
Early 18th century
Larger view

Box
1736 - 1740
Larger view

Snuffbox of Frederick the Great
Circa 1765
Larger view

Miniature replicas of the Imperial regalia
(the grand Imperial crown, the smaller Imperial crown, orb and sceptre), on marble pedestal
1900
Larger view