Treasures From the Palaces of Old Russia, Hammer Galleries 1936

Product Description

Treasures From the Palaces of Old Russia. Hammer Galleries, Inc. 12.5 x 9" catalog. 16 numbered pages between beige textured covers with a red Imperial double-headed eagle in the center surrounded by Art Deco framing. Two locations: 682 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. and Worth Avenue at Everglades Club, Palm Beach, FLA. This is the original catalog published circa 1935-1936 by William E. Rudge's Sons, New York (printed bottom right back cover).

Cream color pages have retained their lustre. Dampstaining top right of 1st page and elsewhere, number "989" written in bottom right corner, "DC" top right corner. Evidence of silk cord binding as seen by the three holes on left edge, which has now gone missing. Covers exhibit some staining, marks, general edge and corner wear.

Categories include Jewelry of the Romanoffs, Hand Carved Animals, Cabinet Pieces, a section on The Icon, including A Rare Icon of the Fifteenth Century, The Beloved Small Icon, Enamels, Crosses and Chains, Sacred Pendants, Small Icons of Brass and of Wood, and the Ever Popular Russian Eggs. Other categories of merchandise offered for sale include Unique Platters, Faberge Cigarette Cases, Rare Books, Dainty Bibelots (!), Gold and Silver, Paintings, Porcelain, China, Crystal, Imperial Porcelain and Glassware. 

We are not even going to mention prices that were then asked, as this was the middle of the Great Depression, and prior to the Great War. As such, prices were laughably low (zoom in on some of them in the accompanying images).

And finally, on the last page, are the notorious Evening Bags of Imperial Brocade and and further information Concerning Imperial Brocades. Pieces were sold with a lengthy description that read: “From a collection of brocades which were formerly used in the Imperial Chapels of the Romanoffs. They were brought from the various palaces about St. Petersburg to the Winter Palace. Here soldiers of the present government sorted them for burning so that the precious gold and silver used in weaving many of them could be reclaimed. Fortunately, Dr. Armand Hammer heard of the plan and succeeded in saving a large number of the vestments by purchasing them. These glorious fabrics, brilliant with metals that will never tarnish, combine the skills and artistry of the West with the originality and color of the Far East.” After Hammer purchased the collection of Russian brocade, he developed a marketing scheme. He would frame some pieces and make other pieces into salable products such as coin purses. Using these pieces, he created the concept of a traveling Russian Imperial Exhibit that would provide visitors with the opportunity to purchase items on display. He created a brochure entitled “The Quest of the Romanoff Treasure” plus two catalogs entitled “The Russian Imperial Treasures Selling Exhibition.”

Hammer’s parents emigrated from Russia in 1875. His father Julius was active in communist and socialist causes. When Julius was imprisoned in 1920, he sent his son Armand to Russia to look after Allied Drug and Chemical, a family business. Although trained as a physician, Armand was an entrepreneur, as evidenced by this catalog.