The Jewels of Romanov Russia
Manage episode 393940122 series 3547282
In this episode I speak with the authors of BEYOND FABERGE, the encyclopaedic book on Russian jewels, Marie Betteley and David Schimmelpennick Van der Oye.
We talk about how Vladimir the Great introduced Christianity to Russia in the 10th Century and thereby importing, from Constantinople, the most innovative goldsmithing and jewellery techniques, which paved the way to the Russian jewels we know today. We learn how, centuries later, the St Petersburg jewellers such as Pauzié, Carl Blank, Bolin, Carl Hahn created an Imperial Jewel Collection like no other, way before Faberge made that first Easter egg in 1885. We hear how Catherine the Great's Coronation Crown is not only set with 5000 diamonds and 75 natural pearls but the largest ever spinel to be mined - weighing 398 carats; the crown weighed five pounds has was worn by every Tsar thereafter.
Marie also explains the difference types of enamelling and the difference between the jewellers of St Petersburg and those of Moscow. David adds in the historical context and explains why the Revolution was inevitable.
I hope that you enjoy this fascinating subject as much as I do!
Images available on my Instagram @josiegoodbody and Marie's @mariebetteley
And my website www.josiegoodbody.com
Book available to buy on Amazon
Produced by Tom Jobling
22 episoder