Catherine the Great, one of history’s most influential female rulers, left an incredible mark through her expansive collections – especially her furniture. As Empress of Russia from 1762 to 1796, she amassed treasures from across Europe and commissioned pieces that exemplified opulence and grandiose royal style. Let’s explore the exquisite furniture from catherine the great furniture era that still stuns visitors today.

Catherine’s Palatial Homes

catherine the great furniture lived extravagantly between her multiple palatial residences in St. Petersburg and Moscow. The Winter Palace in St. Petersburg and the Kremlin in Moscow housed royal rooms with only the finest furnishings. Beyond displaying her immense wealth and status, Catherine also aimed to impress foreign dignitaries through her lavish interiors. Some key homes included:

• The Winter Palace: Her primary St. Petersburg home featured over 1,000 rooms full of gold accents, frescoes and magnificent furniture.
• The Hermitage: Directly attached to the Winter Palace, it housed Catherine’s enormous art collection – much of which was displayed on intricate furniture.
• The Catherine Palace: In Tsarskoye Selo near St. Petersburg, this glittering home was known for its gilt interior dominated by Baroque and Rococo styles.
• The Moscow Kremlin: Catherine updated interiors like the Grand Kremlin Palace with opulent Italian-inspired furniture.

Furniture Styles During Catherine’s Reign

During the 18th century, catherine the great furniture drove the fashion of luxury furniture styles throughout Russia. Some of the predominant designs included:

• Baroque and Rococo: Characterized by elaborate scrollwork, asymmetrical designs and playful, pastoral motifs like flowers and shells. Highly ornamental and lavish.
• Neoclassical: Inspired by ancient Greco-Roman designs, sleek curves, symmetrical lines, and motifs like laurels epitomized elegance and grandeur.
• Empire Style: Popular around 1804-1815, included designs with straight columns, gilded finishes, and influences from Ancient Egyptian and Assyrian architecture. She conveyed imperial might.

Types of Furniture in Catherine’s Palaces

Through purchases and custom creations, Catherine’s collections included:

• Beds with ornate wooden carvings, thick canopies and silk draperies.
• Sideboards and cabinets crafted from rare woods like mahogany featuring marquetry depictions of landmarks or pastoral scenes.
• Gilded armchairs and sofas upholstered in elaborate silk brocades or velvets, layered with fringes and tassels.
• Elaborate desks and writing tables for her work, often with drawers and secret compartments.
• Display cabinets and vitrines to show off luxurious Chinese porcelain, glassware and art collections.

Notable Furniture Makers for Catherine

Catherine patronized the finest furniture makers of her time:

• German artisans like Johann Christian Neureuther created masterpieces in the Rococo style.
• Parisian ébénistes like Jacques Dubois excelled at neoclassic marquetry designs using rare grains.
• Italian artisans brought Baroque designs incorporating mosaics or scagliola (faux marble).
• English makers sent elegant neoclassical pieces, while French ones specialized in Empire style.

Catherine also promoted Russian furniture production, funding factories supervised by Italian designers. Their empirical furniture pieces blended Russian elements with Western influences.

Furniture on Display at the Hermitage Museum

Some remarkable furniture from Catherine’s collections can still be seen today at the world-famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Examples include:

• A carved walnut sleigh bed with red velvet and gold trim from late 18th century Germany.
• An ornate desk featuring intricate brass mounts and miniatures depicting royal and mythological scenes.
• Elegant neoclassical armchairs and sofas with lyre-shaped backs and gilt-bronze mounts.
• A Chinese lacquered cabinet from the 1760s with delicate mother-of-pearl inlay depicting cloud motifs.
• Gilded wooden consul tables encrusted with semi-precious stones are ideal for displaying prized collections.

The extensive grandeur of catherine the great furniture period furnishings represents how she consolidated her power and status through opulent displays of wealth, taste and connection to Europe’s most fashionable trends. Her unparalleled collections helped establish Russia as a cultural force and inspire admiration.