Photo of a unique spittoon from the Empress’s boudoir published

Specialists of the State Hermitage continue to restore the historical interior of the favorite room of Maria Alexandrovna, wife of Emperor Alexander II. In the first years of Soviet power, her chambers were no more fortunate than other residential premises of the Winter Palace. A number of items that decorated the boudoir have already been returned to their place. The museum staff spoke about the most interesting products.

The rich decoration of the boudoir, designed in the second Rococo style by the architect Harald Bosse, was almost completely destroyed after the revolution in 1926.

To return the room to its historical appearance, it was decided to focus on the watercolor of Eduard Gau, who in 1861 captured the chambers of Maria Alexandrovna.

Spittoon. St. Petersburg, 1853 Photo: Hermitage

As a result, historical tables have already been returned to the interior, with tablecloths selected for them that correspond to the era. There are also cabinets on which were placed original Sèvres vases. They are similar to those that decorated the empress’s boudoir during her lifetime. In its place now stands a gilded shelf with porcelain dishes made in France in the 19th century.

A curious item in the restored boudoir is the original spittoon, created in 1853 in the workshop of the Brahms brothers. As a rule, it was used for small debris, but it could also be used for its intended purpose – for example, when chewing tobacco.

The portrait of John the Evangelist was also returned to the boudoir from the storerooms – this is a copy of the work of Domenichino, popular in the mid-19th century. Opposite the painting was a portrait of the Sibyl of Samos, made in the 17th century by one of Guercino’s followers. During the restoration of the room, great attention was paid to the light. In the last century, so-called “picture lamps” were used to illuminate paintings. Experts managed to recreate one of the reflective screens, using the surviving lamps as a sample.

“The exhibits were displayed safely. When selecting objects, not only their size was taken into account, but also their state of preservation,” the museum noted, adding that for this, specialists carefully examined the strength of the wooden carved decor and developed a system for fastening exhibits taking into account vibration.

The Hermitage said that at the beginning of 1924, the Commission for the Accounting and Sale of State Funds organized the largest sale of palace household items in Russian history. As a result, some of the items were sold and transported abroad. There are some left in the storage rooms. Only by the end of the decade was a small part of the furniture confiscated for sale returned to the palace. These were armchairs and a sofa. In the mid-1960s, the walls were reupholstered. Then the imperial boudoir, deprived of its luxury, did not change for many years.

Let us remind you that August 8 marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Empress Maria Alexandrovna (1824-1880). Her fate was beautiful and tragic at the same time. When Maria Alexandrovna fell ill with tuberculosis, she retired to Livadia to protect her children. As historians have noted, already on her deathbed, Maria Alexandrovna sent a note to her husband, Emperor Alexander II, in which she thanked him for giving her the opportunity to serve Russia.

During the war, Maria Alexandrovna refused to sew new dresses for herself and donated all her savings to their benefit. She also marked the beginning of a new period of women’s education in Russia with the establishment of open all-class women’s educational institutions – the Mariinsky gymnasiums.

Maria Alexandrovna’s activities were closely connected with Yalta – this was a whole period of her life. Thus, in 1867, the Empress founded the Russian Red Cross Society. She personally patronized 5 hospitals, 12 almshouses, 36 shelters, 2 institutes, 38 gymnasiums, 156 lower schools and five private charitable societies. She spent only a quarter of the amount due to her from the state on personal needs. Maria Alexandrovna gave the remaining funds to benefit orphans, widows, the sick and wounded.