The Weapons Set of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna exhibition at the Arsenal pavilion in the Alexander Park runs from 23 July through 9 November 2025.
On display are three pieces from the titular set of weapons that belonged to the daughter of Peter the Great: a hunting flintlock shotgun, a flintlock pistol and a dress smallsword. All thee are similarly ornate, some are dated 1755 and marked as made in the Russian city of Tula. An avid hunter and masquerade party lover, Elizabeth Petrovna either commissioned the set or received it as a gift, and possibly used it on both occasions.
The objects are kindly provided by St Petersburg's Artillery Museum, which received them from the State Hermitage in 1931. The latter had them in the Arsenal of the Anichkov Palace and still has two other pieces of the set, a rifled flintlock carbine and a rifled flintlock pistol. The set came there from the collection of Grand Duke Michael, the youngest son of Emperor Paul I, who prematurely died due to an illness in 1849. One part of his collection, including Elizabeth's weapons set, was sent by his brother, Emperor Nicholas I to the Arsenal of the Anichkov Palace, the other to the Arsenal of Tsarskoe Selo.
The exhibition showcases:
Ceremonial hunting fusil
(smoothbore flintlock shotgun)
Tula Arsenal, Russian Empire, 1755
Artillery Museum. Inventory No.1ООФ 17-14
The 16 mm caliber shotgun bears the monogram of Elizabeth Petrovna under the imperial crown, and "TULA 1755" inscribed in gold.
Ceremonial pistol
(smoothbore flintlock pistol)
Tula Arsenal, Russian Empire, 1755
Iron, carved walnut wood and bone, gilding
Artillery Museum. Inventory No.1ООФ 37-84
The 15.5 mm caliber pistol bears a bust-length portrait of Elizabeth Petrovna on the handle, her monogram under the imperial crown, and the inscriptions "TULA" and "1755".
Ceremonial smallsword
(dress or camisole smallsword)
Tula Arsenal, Russian Empire, 1755
Hammered and carved steel with gilding
Artillery Museum. Inventory No.1ООФ 112-5
The gilded hilt and blade are decorated with vegetative ornaments, ancient Roman military equipment (armour, shields, banners, axes, lictor's fasces), and bird-like creatures.