CARRIAGE. SAINT PETERSBURG, 1739

EXPOSITION
HALL 1. RUSSIAN GOLD- AND SILVERWARE OF THE 12TH - EARLY 17TH CENTURY
HALL 2. RUSSIAN GOLD- AND SILVERWARE OF THE 17TH - EARLY 20TH CENTURY
HALL 3. EUROPEAN AND ORIENTAL CEREMONIAL ARMS AND ARMOUR OF THE 15TH - 19TH CENTURIES
HALL 4. RUSSIAN ARMS AND ARMOUR OF THE 12TH - EARLY 19TH CENTURY
HALL 5. WEST EUROPEAN SILVER OF THE 13TH - 19TH CENTURIES
HALL 6. ECCLESIASTICAL ATTIRE, PICTORIAL AND ORNAMENTAL EMBROIDERY OF THE 14TH - 18TH CENTURIES. RUSSIAN ROYAL GARMENT IN THE 16TH - EARLY 20TH CENTURY
HALL 7. ANCIENT STATE REGALIA AND CEREMONIAL ITEMS OF THE 13TH - 18TH CENTURIES
HALL 8. CEREMONIAL HORSE HARNESS OF THE 16TH - 18TH CENTURIES
HALL 9. ROYAL CARRIAGES OF THE 16TH - 18TH CENTURIES

This ceremonial two-seater carriage was made by Saint Petersburg masters in 1739 for Empress Anna Ioannovna. The carriage was transported to Moscow in 1742 to be repaired for the future coronation of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna. The carriage was renewed several times after that. It must have been rather comfortable, so it took part in ceremonial arrivals of coronation processions in the Kremlin in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The carriage is equipped with springs, a turning axle and a coachman’s seat. Its doors and windows are covered with mirror glass; the body is entirely decorated with relief carving, bronze adornment and painting. Baroque curls and shells collocate harmoniously with sculptural images of masks and two-headed eagles. A copper crown tops the carriage.