ARCHITECTURE

The Armoury museum building, included to the Grand Kremlin Palace Complex on the project of architect K.A. Ton, was erected in 1844-1851 on the place of the dismantled Stables Court in the 17th century. 

The architecture of the Armoury Сhamber is close to the Grand Kremlin Palace. The two-storeyed construction is placed on a full basement of variable height. Details styled in a 17th-century manner were used in the façades’ décor, but in contradistinction to the 17th-century style, they are free of coldness and meagreness. The chief adornment of the façades is white-stone carved columns with juicy floral ornament. 

The composition of the Armoury with symmetrically located exposition halls and the front entrance with a staircase in the flat eastern end of the building is somewhat unexpected. The enfilade of display halls closes with half-round halls in flat ends. In the centre, there is a round hall bossed into the yard. The unusual system of high floor vaults, bearing against exquisite columns, creates an impression of constructions’ aeriality and a feeling of interior amplitude and magnificence.

The present-day exposition was created in 1986. On display in nine halls are Russian and foreign jewellery pieces of the 12th-19th centuries, arms and armour, state regalia, royal carriages, garment and other artware.

Since 1967, the ground floor of the building houses the 'Diamond Fund' exhibition.