SHOWCASE 41. ART BY FRENCH SILVERSMITHS OF THE 17TH - 18TH CENTURIES

At the beginning of the 18th century, in Western Europe, the pride of place went from German to French jewellers. The showcase represents gold and silver articles executed by French craftsmen in the styles of Regency, rococo and classicism.

Diplomatic and trading relations between Russia and France, established in the 16th century, were not confirmed by ambassadorial gifts. Therefore almost all the exhibits in the showcase were commissioned. Many artworks by French makers of the late 17th - early 18th century were melted down. Only a few pieces have survived and found their place in the Armoury treasury.

The 18th-century France dictated the fashion in Europe. Russian monarchs commissioned the best French jewellers to execute gold toilet sets, boxes, snuffboxes and services. Many of the articles displayed in the showcase are the constituents of the services commissioned by Catherine the Great in the 1770s for official receptions, i.e. items from the Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and Yekaterinoslav services. Also, we can see the Orlov service which consisted of more than three thousand pieces and intended for forty persons. A small part of the service was preserved in the State Hermitage and the Armoury Chamber, such as soup tureens, wine coolers, plates, candlesticks and shell-like dishes for butter.