It looks like a box with a secret: behind the laconic facade hides a regal splendor - halls decorated in the Chinese style. A rt hi storian Alexand re Benois called Catherine II's personal residence a graceful, elegant trinket that one could not help but admire. T he Chinese palace was built by architect Antonio Rinaldi.
The rooms were decorated in the then fashionable ‘ chinoiserie ’ style: a lot of gilding and stucco , smooth curves of frames, porcelain from the East and Europe, mirrors, Chinese and Japanese lacquer furniture. In order to decorate the e mpress' personal summer house, a trade caravan traveled to China several times. Catherine entertained her first guests t here in 1768.
T he main pearl of the palace is considered to be the Glass Bead Cabinet: its walls are decorated with a dozen panels embroidered with silk thread and glass beads. Butterflies and birds flutter across the sparkling background and the gilded frames resemble tree trunks. It ’s as if one finds oneself not in a room, but in a magical forest.
Catherine II loved the study for its "exuberant appearance" and met with high-ranking guests in it . Dear readers, Our website and social media accounts are under threat of being restricted or banned, due to the current circumstances. So, to keep up with our latest content, simply do the following: Subscribe to our Telegram channel Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter Enable push notifications on our website Install a VPN service on your computer an.
