4: The Kitchen

In the Kitchen food was prepared for festive banquets. The palace was often used for "assemblies" - parties with large numbers of guests who were served fine food in large quantities. "Nowhere in St Petersburg can one dine as well as at the Prince's," a contemporary wrote. The brick stove-hood here has survived from the early 1700s. The range below it was recreated using old bricks by analogy with other stoves of 17th-18th centuries. To the right of the door through to the Main Vestibule part of the original arched opening has been exposed. The display includes a Dutch painted wall clock (late 17th century), Russian and foreign kitchen utensils, some made of pewter, a Russian-made chetvertina drinking vessel with an image of St George, Seasons of the Year dishes made in Germany in 1644 and a large tub cut from the bole of a lime tree and used for brewing beer.