Armoury (Kremlin)
The Armory (Оружейная палата in Russian), one of the oldest museums of Moscow, located in the Kremlin.
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Initially, the Armory was a state institutiton, known since 1508. In the second half of the 16th century - early 18th century, the Armory was in charge of producing, purchasing and storing weapons, jewelry and various household articles of the court. In 1640 and 1683, they opened the iconography and pictorial studios in the Armory building and gave lessons on painting and handicrafts. In 1700, they transferred treasures from the tsarist Gold and Silver Chambers to the Armory.
The best Russian gunsmiths the Vyatkin brothers and N.Davydov, jeweller G.O.Ovdokimov, painters Simon Ushakov and N.Ye.Pavlovets and some prominent foreigners used to work in the Armory.
In 1711, the majority of the masters was transferred to St.Petersburg. In 1726, the Armory was combined with the State Treasury (Казённый двор, or Kazyonniy dvor (Fiscal Yard) - the oldest depository of the tsarist treasures), Stables Treasury (in charge of storing harnesses and carriages) and the Master Chamber (in charge of sewing clothes and bedclothes for the tsars). It became known as the Arms and Master Chamber, where they would store the most valuable historic and artistic articles.
In 1806, the Armory was transformed into a museum (opened in 1813). After 1917, the Soviets transferred the treasures of the Patriarch sacristy, Kremlin cathedrals, monasteries and private collections to the Armory. It has unique masterpiece collections of the Russian, Western European and Eastern applied arts of the 5-20 centuries: the helmet of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich; the sabers of Kuzma Minin and Dmitri Pozharski; famous 12-century necklaces of Ryazan; the largest collection of Faberge eggs in the world; golden and silver tableware; articles, decorated with enamel, niello and engravings; embroidery with gold and pearls; tsarist thrones and regalia; harness for special occasions; carriages, weapons, armor etc.
In 1960, the Armory became the official museum of the Kremlin. In 1962, they opened the Armory's branch called the Applied Arts Museum in the Patriarch chambers and the Cathedral of the Twelve Apostles.
The exhibition of the Russian Diamond Collection (Алмазный фонд, or Almazny fond) is located in the Armory.
The current Armory building was erected in 1844-1851 by the imperial architect Konstantin Ton.