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The State Hermitage possesses a vast collection of Oriental silver
filigree of the 17th-19th centuries, which is one of the
best in the world. The objects now in the museum were created in China,
India and South-East Asia for the European and inner market. The collection
is based on the palace treasury of the 18th century. Many pieces preserved
their history, and now we know how they were acquired and to whom they
belonged.
The objects of silver filigree were already in the possession of
Russian tsars in the 17th-18th centuries. There are such important
historical pieces like the big casket with the two-headed eagle of the
Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the writing set of William of
Orange, the Stadholder of the Netherlands and King of England,
items from the collection of Peter the Great, chinoiserie from the first
palaces in St Petersburg and articles from the Imperial Gallery
of Jewellery.
The collection boasts of two Oriental filigree mirrors with toilet sets,
which belonged to Catherine the Great. These sets were kept at the Empress’s
"Entresol" together with other Oriental exotica till the end
of the Hermitage’s construction. The sets are complete, which is
a rarity today. Both sets were produced in the middle of the 18th century.
One of them consisting of 19 items was made in India, the other of 32
items in China.
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Footed cups
First half - middle of the 17th century
Larger view
Vessel with handles shaped as dragons
Late 17th - early 18th century
Larger view
Toilet set of 32 pieces
1740s-1750s
Larger view
Box in the shape of a crab
1740s-1750s
Larger view
Small box
Early 18th century
Larger view
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