Very rare menu of the Gala Dinner which took place at the Grand Kremlin Palace on May 25, 1913 during the Romanov Tercentenary celebrations in Moscow. Nicholas II and all members of the Imperial family attended that dinner.
18 x 6 1/4 in. (45 x 16 cm)
Condition: a light center fold, overall excellent.
On May 24 the Czarist family entered Moscow after a one week tour of ancient Russian towns related to the fist Czar of the Romanov dynasty Michail on board of the steamship Czar Michael Feodorovich. During the celebrations in Moscow between May 24 and May 27, the Czarist family attended church services at the cathedrals of the Kremlin where the first Romanov Czar Michael is buried, and visited several monasteries including Novospasky, where the burial-vault of pre-1613 Romanov family is located.
There were two jubilee dinners, one for 700 persons at the Kremlin on May 25, another – on May 26 at the Noble Gathering of Moscow (about 2,000 persons were invited).
Dinner toasts at the Kremlin palace were accompanied with cannon salute. The dinner was followed by the performance of the Bolshoy Theater.
Chromolithograph on pale brown paper. The format of the menu resembles stolbetz, a traditional paper document of the 16th-17th century which was usually rolled.
At the top of the menu: enthroned young Czar Michael with black double headed eagle in the background. A round gilded shield with a griffin of the Romanov family is on the eagle’s breast.
Inscription on the ribbons held by the eagle and on the ribbon below the throne reads: The Tercentenary of The Reign of The Romanov House.
In the middle of the menu, a three-person group symbolizes prosperity of Russia and support of the Czar by all classes of the society . A boyar (nobleman in pre-1700 Russia) is holding a scroll with inscription TRUTH and GRACE. Shield of an ancient warrior is inscribed FOR CZAR AND FATHERLAND. A boy in medieval dress is pouring fruits from a Horn of Plenty. Inscription at the sides reads ABUNDANCE OF FRUITS OF THE LAND.
Translation:
25 May 1913
Moscow
DINNER
Soups: Turtle and Purée of Chicken with Asparagus
Pastries
Sterlet Imperial style
Wild Goat Saddle with Garnish
Young Chicken with Truffles
“Victoria” Punch
Main Course: Ducks and Poulardes
Cucumber Salad
Asparagus with Sauce
“Cardinal” Peaches
Parisian Ice Cream
Dessert
Inscription at the sides of the Imperial warrant reads: Supplier of His Majesty’s Court Printer A.A.Levinson Moscow.
Signed by the artist: S.Yaguzhinsky 1913.
