Âåðñèÿ äëÿ ñëàáîâèäÿùèõ äîñòóïíà òîëüêî íà áîëüøèõ ýêðàíàõ
Font size:
A
A
A
Colours:
W
W
W
Images:
OnOff
Listening:
OffOn
Major version:

According to recent research, the summer "amusement" two-seater carriage was executed in the Stables Prikaz Workshops in 1690-1692s for the two-year-old Tsarevich Alexey, the son of Peter I. Such carriages were called "amusement" as they were used in children's games and amusements, not for official processions. 17th-century carriages are rare in world’s collections, only a few have survived. This tiny vehicle gives us an idea of the shape, décor and construction of carriages during this period.

The body of the two-seater carriage upholstered in pale-blue leather is smoothly narrowing downwards and has the elegant wave-like curve at the lower section. This small equipage has some interesting technical innovations, namely a crane-neck and an axle-pivot between the front runners. The Kremlin masters implemented this improved way of turning already in the second half of the 17th century.

Several approaches are used in decoration, including small copper nails with circular heads carefully arranged on the cornice, around the windows and on the doors. The mica is held in place in the windows by narrow strips of tin and decorated with small nails with grooved heads. The upholstery has an embossed and gilded relief design with dynamic lines. The design is formed of foliate elements in an unusually elegant pattern which includes exotic birds, small animals and the figures of putti. The leather is fixed by copper nails with round heads, that play their role in the décor.

This richly gilded pattern contrast well with the gentle pastel shade of the leather and enhances the décor of the equipage, as well as giving it a certain elegance. Beautifully executed on leather, the composition shows how well the intricacies of Baroque ornament had been mastered and demonstrates that leather upholstery of this kind, the production of which had only just begun in the Moscow Kremlin, was already of a high quality.

 
up