Russia's treasure of diamonds and precious stones

by: Fersman, A. E. (Aleksandr Evgenevich), 1883-1945.

Publication date: 1925-26

Topics: Crown jewels--Russia--Catalogs, Gems--Russia--Catalogs

Publisher: The People's Commissariat of Finances

Collection: gialibrary; additional_collections

Language: English

"Russia's Diamond Treasure is composed of the best portion of the State-Jewels and Regalia, formerly the property of the tsars."--Pt. 1, p. 12

"Official examination [of the Treasure] took place in March-April [1922] ... Description of the whole collection is the personal contribution of the mineralogist A.E. Fersman assisted by S.N. Troinitzky...and A.N. Benois... "--Pt. 1, p.12-13.

"Experts especially appointed ... expert-jewellers: A. Fabergé, A. Kolter, B. Masseiv, A. Bock, A. Frantz, and the skilful [sic] photographer I. N. Alexandrov." -- Pt. 1, p.13.

"'The Diamond Treasure' in four parts contains 25 phototyped plates to each."--Pt. 1, p. 13.

"Russia's 'Treasure' is composed of 406 separate pieces of jewellery in all: 271 different articles...: crowns; globe, sceptre and chains; stars, crosses and emblems; diadems; necklaces; 'rivières' (diamonds); brooches and clasps, etc.; lockets; head-gears; pins; earrings and buckles; buttons and rings; court-ornaments; gold snuff-boxes and other small boxes; solitaires (loose stones); sundry gold trinkets."--Pt. 1, p. 14-15.

Jewelers mentioned in Part 2: Rockentin (German); Jérémie Posier; Aurolé (Frenchman, mounter of stones).

Jewelers mentioned in Part 3: Fredericks (British merchants); Eckard; Duval et Fils; Terenin; Sachs; Hahn, Pfisterer, Chr. Boist. (?); Bolin, Koechli.

For more history on this work, see Lord Twining's A history of the crown jewels of Europe, p. 530-558.