Magnificence of the Tsars on Display at the V&A Museum

Tag : wool fancy

Ceremonial Men's Dress of the Russian Imperial Court, 1721-1917,from the collection of the Moscow Kremlin Museums
10 December 2008 - 2 March 2009
A display of rare and lavishly decorated costumes and uniforms wornby the Tsars and court officials of Imperial Russia, most of whichhave never been exhibited before either in Russia or abroad, willbe shown for the first time at the V&A this winter as part of anexchange between the V&A and the Moscow Kremlin Museums.
Magnificence of the Tsars will feature more than 40 superbensembles from the collections of the Moscow Kremlin Museums,Russia's oldest national Treasury.
Highlights include outfits from the extensive gold and silverembellished wardrobe of the boy emperor Peter II, who reigned forjust three years, and the coronation uniforms of the succeedingseven emperors ending with the last Russian Emperor, Nicholas II.The display concludes with a five metre long, ermine-trimmedImperial coronation mantle identical to the one worn by Nicholas IIin 1896.
The display will feature garments which have survived wars andrevolutions and which have only recently begun to be studied inRussia. They show the work of the most eminent master craftsmen ofthe period, giving visitors a taste of the legendary magnificenceand luxury of the Imperial Russian court.
In addition, there will be spectacular examples of fashionable18th-century men's dress and uniforms of court officials, coachmenand postilions.
The display will start in the 1720s with the wardrobe of the boyemperor Peter II.
Peter died at the age of 14, having reigned between 1727 and 1730.The elaborate style and cut of his clothes reflect the Frenchinfluence on the Russian Court.
The collection of Peter II's clothes forms a 'capsule' wardrobeshowing the range of his dress including his coronation waistcoat,breeches, stockings and underwear, and a selection of his exquisitecoats and gowns. The exhibits reveal the high quality textiles andchanging fashions adopted by the upper echelons of society.
They contrast with the elegant restraint of uniforms donned bylater Tsars under their glorious ceremonial robes.
These costumes demonstrate the originality and skill of the finesttailors, embroiderers and jewellers working for the Imperial Courtand their use of embellished silks, intricate embroidery and lace.Some reflect the influence of Western Europe on the Russian Court.Others show how 19th-century Tsars began to adopt elements oftraditional Russian costume reflecting a time of rising nationalismin Europe.
The display will include the historic fancy dress costume worn byNicholas II to the Russian Ball of 1903; weapons worn at court;jewellery (including a jewelled telescope and embellished snuffboxes); portraits of the Tsars; and illustrated books.
The Magnificence of the Tsars is part of an exchange of displaysbetween the V&A and the Moscow Kremlin Museums. The exhibition TwoCenturies of British Fashion, showing 18th- and 19th-centuryBritish dress from the V&A's collections, will open at the KremlinMuseums' Armoury Museum on 5 September 2008.
Elena Gagarina, General Director of the Moscow Kremlin Museums,said of the Russian exhibits: "This collection of dress has onlyrecently begun to be studied. The majority is kept in the museum'sstores and has been specially conserved for this exhibition. Byincluding costumes and accessories of the greatest historical andartistic significance, we have aimed to introduce the Britishpublic to the art of the finest dressmakers, tailors, embroiderersand jewellers working for the Russian Imperial Court."
Mark Jones, Director of the V&A, said: "This is a rare opportunityfor the British public to see the spectacular dress worn by theTsars in the Imperial Russian Court, most of which has not been ondisplay even in Russia. These are objects of exceptional historicimportance from one of the world's greatest museums. The exchangewith Moscow is also a wonderful opportunity for the Russian publicto see highlights from the V&A's unsurpassed collections of 18th-and 19th-century British dress."
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