No. 4, 2009

Kuskovo Estate, a beautiful and unique 18th-century architectural ensemble, is located in Moscow's Eastern Administrative District.   Its magnificent palace, beautiful park and reflecting pool, and special atmosphere of past culture have made Kuskovo the public's favorite surviving Moscow estate.

The first recorded mention of Kuskovo was toward the end of the 17th century, when it was already home to the famous Sheremetyev family of aristocrats.   Kuskovo remained the property of the Sheremetyevs right down until 1917 - something quite rare in the history of noble estates.

From the 1750s through the 1770s, an expanded residence with a palace, many "entertaining diversions," and a huge park with ponds arose at Kuskovo. The architectural complex was built in the Baroque-Rococo style of the mid-18th century.  In Russia, structures in this style have been preserved mainly in the environs of St. Petersburg; for Moscow and its surrounding area, this complex is unique.  The entire estate was designed for lavish receptions and the entertaining of guests.  To meet these aims, park pavilions and gazebos, a conservatory and odditorium, and a menagerie and hunting lodge were built.    In addition, the park is adorned with many sculptures, obelisks, and a column with a statue of the goddess Minerva.  Truly a Moscow Versailles!

In 1919, Kuskovo officially became a state museum, and was merged with Russia's only ceramics museum in 1938. The State Museum of Ceramics is especially proud of its unique collection of Russian porcelain, produced by Russian manufacturers from the 18th century on.

At present, the museum's collection contains more than 30 thousand works of art: Italian lusterware; Venetian, English, and Russian glass; and Meissen, Sevres, and Eastern porcelain.   The estate's earlier traditions of hospitality are being revived with theatricized festivals, receptions, and revels. Kuskovo Estate is a favorite recreational venue for workers at the American Embassy in Moscow: the United States' Independence Day is celebrated here every year.  

Today, Kuskovo Estate is one of Russia's best known museums, and has the world's largest specialized collection of ceramics and glass from different countries, from antiquity to modern times.