His Imperial Majesty's Cabinet

Categories / Capital/Superior and Central State Institutions
HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY'S CABINET, central state institution. Created in 1704 as Tsar Peter the Great's private cabinet, conducting the personal correspondence of Russian Emperors, managing their personal finances and property. From 1801, it was a court institution, managing the so called Cabinet's possessions and property in Siberia and Altay, the Imperial Porcelain and Glass Plants, the Imperial Trellis Manufactory in St. Petersburg, the Peterhof Engraving and Paper Factories, and the Paper and Wallpaper Factories at Tsarskoe Selo. The Cabinet was responsible for the reconstruction of the Winter Palace, the construction of the Mikhailovsky Castle, the Elagin Palace and many other developments, including the building of the Imperial Public Library. From 1826, the Cabinet was a part of the Ministry of the Imperial Court. In the early 19th century, the Cabinet was located in the Anichkov Palace, in a former parade yard where two U-shaped blocks were built in 1803-09 (architect G. Quarenghi), which were originally meant for shopping stall rows (39 Nevsky Prospect). Their facades, with arcades on the first floor (laid in 1885), were decorated with three-quarter Ionian columns, joining the first and second floors. A side passage to the yard from the Fontanka River was designed as an open colonnade. In 1809-11, the building was enlarged with annexes on the side of the yard and used for the Cabinet. After the February Revolution of 1917, the Cabinet was abolished. Today its building is a part of the Palace of Youth Creativity.

References: Обзор деятельности Кабинета Его Императорского Величества за 1906-1915 гг. Пг., 1916; 200-летие Кабинета Е. И. В., 1704-1904: Ист. исслед. СПб., 1911.

Y. A. Kuzmin. Peter I, Emperor
Quarenghi Giacomo
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 39
200-летие Кабинета е. и. в. 1704 - 1904: Ист. исслед. СПб., 1911
Обзор деятельности Кабинета Его Императорского Величества за 1906-1915 гг. Пг., 1916 Lomonosov Porcelain Factory
Tapestry Manufacture
Goznaka Paper Factory
Winter Palace
Mikhailovsky Castle
Elagin Palace
Anichkov Palace