3: 18th-Century Carriages

The majority of carriages and items related items from the State Hermitage collection are being shown for the first time in the open repository display. The 18th century is represented with particularly variety. There are large richly decorated conveyances intended for official ceremonies; small, vis-à-vis carriages for two passengers; light pleasure carriages and a variety of sleighs for wintertime amusements - children's, masquerade, large-capacity; droshkies, phaetons and sedan chairs. They are marked by the abundance and richness of decoration so characteristic for the 18th century - combinations of different materials, a vivid colour scheme, much gilding, woodcarving, painting, cast metal and embroidery. Of particular interest are three vis-à-vis carriages from 1761 that were unarguably designed by a great craftsman. The pride of the collection are the carriages produced at the court factory in St Petersburg by the celebrated master Johann Konrad Bukendahl.