Description of the monogram of the supplier of the imperial court. Exhibition "Suppliers of the Court of His Imperial Majesty" at the Central House of Artists - report. Exhibition opening hours

On March 13, 2017, the opening of the exhibition “Suppliers of the Court of His Imperial Majesty” will take place at the House of the Russian Historical Society, which tells about the fate of outstanding representatives of the pre-revolutionary confectionery and wine production. The winners of international exhibitions - the Eliseev Brothers partnership, the Beckman & Co. company, the Georges Borman confectionery and other legendary domestic brands of the turn of the 19th-20th centuries will be represented by numerous exhibits and extensive photographic material from the Abrau-Durso funds and the Museum collection history of Russian chocolate - “M.I.R. chocolate”, Museum of the History of Russian Vodka - “M.I.R. vodka."

The event was organized as part of a joint project of the Russian Historical Society and the all-Russian public organization “Business Russia” with the support of the History of the Fatherland Foundation and the Faculty of History of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov.

Part of the exhibition is dedicated to the most significant masters of the confectionery business: A.I. Abrikosov, the founder of the famous confectionery factory “Partnership A.I. Abrikosov's sons" (now the Babaevsky concern), Georges Bormann - the founder of the confectionery company and the trademark of his name, Ferdinand Theodor von Einem - the founder of the "Einem Partnership" (now "Red October"), the Trading House "A. Siu and K" (now the Bolshevik factory).

In the second half of the 19th century, confectionery production in Russia grew and developed at a rapid pace. All over the country, small and large partnerships and artels arose for the production of chocolate, sweets, caramel, candies and other various sweets. Competition contributed to expanding the range of products, improving the quality of goods, and creating interesting and vibrant advertising, which was often the product packaging itself. The real chocolate king of the Russian Empire was Alexey Ivanovich Abrikosov, who came from a merchant family. In 1849, Alexey Ivanovich started his own confectionery enterprise, which constantly expanded, becoming by the end of the 19th century the largest confectionery enterprise in Russia, Supplier to the Court of His Imperial Highness. He was not only the largest manufacturer of confectionery products, but also an active public figure: for his outstanding services he was awarded the highest awards: from the Gold Medal on the Annin Ribbon to the Order of St. Vladimir of the third degree, inclusive, and the rank of Full State Councilor. Another famous owner of a confectionery company is Grigory Nikolaevich Borman, founder of the confectionery brand “Georges Borman”, merchant of the 2nd guild, hereditary honorary citizen of St. Petersburg. His activity began in 1866 with the purchase of a chocolate factory on English Avenue from the German confectioner Heinrich Pfeiffer. Since 1876, Borman was awarded the title “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty” with the right to depict the State Emblem on his products.

The second part of the exhibition is dedicated to the wine masters of pre-revolutionary Russia, both famous and undeservedly forgotten. Among them: the Eliseev Brothers trading partnership, the N.L. Shustov with Sons", vodka distillery "Beckman and Co", vodka distillery "Keller and Co", the company "Heidsieck & Co" and some others. Of particular interest among the exhibits are authentic drinks for emperors and grand dukes, which have become invaluable evidence of great art in the production of domestic wine and vodka products. Separately, the exhibition presents the history of the revival of the famous champagne wine producer Abrau-Durso.

The history of the domestic production of high-quality drinks has many glorious pages. In 1892, at the World Exhibition in Paris, the Eliseevs received the highest award for aging French wines, and at all subsequent international exhibitions, French wines from the collection of the Eliseev Brothers trading house were accepted only out of competition - it was recognized that they had no equal in level and range. Already in 1900, at a grandiose exhibition, which was visited by more than 50 million people, including representatives of royal families, the collection of the best French wines “RetourdeRussie”, exhibited out of competition, presented by the Eliseev Brothers trading house, became a world sensation, for which Grigory Eliseev was awarded Order of the Legion of Honor. Another notable victory of the Russian manufacturer is the Grand Prix of the N.L. Shustov and his sons" for the "Fin-Champagne Selected" cognac. The jury conducted a blind tasting and awarded victory to the sample, which turned out to be Russian. This is how the product became famous all over the world. To promote the drink in Russia, the entrepreneur resorted to a trick: bribed young dandies who demanded “Shustov’s cognac” to be served in the best establishments, indignantly left the establishment if this drink was not available, thereby forcing restaurant owners to purchase it.

These and other bright and entertaining episodes from the history of the activities of suppliers to the Court of His Imperial Majesty will be told at the exhibition. Entrance to the exhibition is by ticket. You have a unique opportunity to combine a visit to a temporary thematic exhibition with a sightseeing tour of the estate and the House of the Russian Historical Society, including the Alexander, Okhotnichiy, and Streletsky halls.

How to visit the exhibition?

The exhibition takes place in the House of the Russian Historical Society at the address: Moscow, st. Vorontsovo field 13с1

Dates:

16.03.2017 - 17.04.2017

Exhibition opening hours:

Tuesday, Thursday: Group I 17:00 - 18:00, Group II 19:00 - 20:00. Saturday: Group I 12:00 - 13:00, Group II 14:00 - 15:00

Tickets:

Ticket price is 150 rubles. Preliminary electronic registration

Children under 12 years old are free.

Becoming a supplier of goods to the king was not easy. The candidate had to prove the merits of his product during the 8-year “probationary period”. Many brands became famous due to the fact that their quality was appreciated by the emperor and his family.

The title of the court "Supplier" and the form of the sign were introduced at the beginning of the reign of Emperor Alexander II in 1856. Since 1862, selected manufacturers, artists and craftsmen have been allowed to use the state coat of arms on their signs and products.

Partnership A.I. Abrikosov and sons

This is one of the oldest Moscow enterprises, now it is a confectionery factory named after. P.A. Babaeva. In 1804, the former serf Stepan Nikolaev, nicknamed Obrokosov, appeared in Moscow, where he founded a confectionery establishment. The partnership became a supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty in 1899. Abrikosov paid special attention to advertising. In 1891 alone, 300 thousand rubles were spent on it. The pastry chef filled the whole city with his leaflets.

Cars Russo-Balt

By May 1913, Nicholas II's vehicle fleet consisted of 29 cars. Among them were Russo-Balt cars, the quality of which was confirmed by participation in numerous rallies.

Since 1909, the Russian-Baltic Carriage Plant in Riga began producing them. Soon "Russo-Balt" made its debut in the St. Petersburg - Berlin - Prague - Rome - Naples - Vesuvius motor rally. In January 1912, a special sports modification C 24-50, driven by Andrei Nagel and Vadim Mikhailov, took the “First Prize of Routes for Distance” and the “First Prize of Tourism for Endurance” at the Monte Carlo Rally, covering 3500 km on winter roads.

"Russo-Balts" were famous for their reliability, and large orders for them came from the military department. Soon the automobile department of the Russian-Baltic Carriage Works was named Supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty.

Singer sewing machines

The American company Singer entered our market back in the 1860s through the general European distributor, the German Georg Neidlinger, with a head warehouse in Hamburg and 65 “dealer” centers in Russia. In 1897, the joint stock company Singer Manufacturing Company was founded. And then the success of Russian sales prompted Singer management to think about creating its own production in Russia.

In 1902, a plant opened in Podolsk, producing cars with the Russified Singer logo (to which was soon added the then “quality mark” - the inscription “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty”). These cars were not only widely distributed throughout Russia, but were also exported to Turkey and the Balkans, as well as to Persia, Japan and China. By the beginning of the First World War, the plant annually produced 600 million cars. They were sold directly in 3,000 company stores, as well as through the “goods by mail” system.
One remarkable fact speaks of the breadth of coverage of the pre-revolutionary Russian market. One of the sons of the famous jeweler Faberge, Agafon Karlovich, was a passionate philatelist.

Having learned that the St. Petersburg representative office of Singer was moving to another address, he figured out how to become the owner of one of the most complete collections of rare Zemstvo stamps in the world. Faberge Jr. offered the company to remove for free its huge and seemingly no longer needed archive, which occupied two railway cars. It was based, as you might guess, on letters of order from Russian cities and villages with stamps pasted on the envelopes. Later, Agathon's son Oleg Faberge lived comfortably on interest from his father's collection pledged in one of the Swiss banks, which eventually went at auction for 2.53 million Swiss francs.

Alcohol producer Shustov N.L.

Nikolai Leontievich Shustov achieved this title for a total of 38 years. He went down in history as the creator of Russian cognac of the highest quality. During his 20 years of service, the entrepreneur accumulated a fortune that allowed him to open a small vodka factory in 1863. In 1880, he bought a plot of land on Bolshaya Sadovaya, where he moved his enterprise.

By the end of the 19th century, the range of products began to differ in diversity - zubrovka, tangerine liqueur, Caucasian mountain herbal, liqueurs of Russian steppe herbs and Crimean. The Shustovs’ unique view of promoting their products changed the consciousness of the Russian consumer market of the 19th century.

Before him, advertisers addressed society as supplicants, but Shustov taught his sons to demand. Through his acquaintances, Nikolai Leontyevich found several students who, for a good fee, went to taverns and demanded that Shustov vodka be served everywhere. Students were even allowed to have a little rowdy behavior - no more than 10 rubles.

Their earnings were a percentage of orders received by the company from catering and drinking establishments that they “acquired.” Thus, in a short time, all Moscow taverns learned about the existence of very good and relatively cheap vodka.

Einem comrades

In 1850, a German citizen, Theodor Einem, arrived in Moscow and opened a candy-making workshop on Arbat. Julius Geis became his companion. Entrepreneurs made good money by supplying syrups and preserves to the Russian army during the Crimean War, which allowed them to build a factory building on Sofiyskaya Embankment, opposite the Kremlin, in 1867.

In 1878, after the death of the founder, the factory went to Geis, but retained the name "Einem" (now "Red October"). The company produced about 20 types of products; “sweet baskets” for brides were especially popular. In 1913 the company received the title "Supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty".

Vodka magnate Smirnov

The company of Pyotr Arsenievich Smirnov enjoyed particular fame, who in 1862 began his own production of alcoholic beverages at a small vodka factory on Pyatnitskaya Street.
Table wine “N 21”, as well as tincture “Nezhinsky rowan”, have gained the greatest popularity among consumers. These products helped the company acquire the right to depict the State Emblem and the title "Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty and Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich."

The cost of products produced per year reached 17-20 million rubles. The tax that went to the treasury from Smirnov's enterprise was equal to half of the pre-war budget of the Russian army.

Trading house "Eliseev Brothers"

The Eliseev Brothers trading house was created in 1857, and in 1874 it already became a supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty. Grigory Eliseev’s bold idea was to create a network of stores offering customers a full range of high-quality food products and wines.

The first large "Eliseevsky" stores appeared in St. Petersburg and Kyiv towards the end of the 19th century. Five departments were opened in the Moscow Eliseevsky: grocery, confectionery, colonial-gastronomic goods, Baccarat crystal and the largest fruit department. The grocery store introduced the residents of the capital to overseas delicacies: special olive oil was brought from Provence, French truffles, oysters, coconuts, and bananas were sold there.

In addition to overseas products, delicacies from all over Russia were sold here: hams, balyki from white and sturgeon fish, the best caviar. Eliseevsky had a huge selection of tea and coffee. "Eliseevsky" was not a store exclusively for wealthy customers; in addition to delicacies, one could buy food here at regular prices.

The grocery store monitored product quality very strictly. The salaries of the employees were very high, but the requirements were also appropriate. In addition to a huge selection of goods, Eliseevsky was distinguished by a huge range of its production. There were bakeries, oil-pressing, salting and smoking shops, and the production of jams, marmalades, roasting coffee beans, bottling wines, drinks, etc. was established.

How the merchants and industrialists of the Mother See competed will be told within the framework of the project "Trading Exchange". Participants in the project “Moscow Suppliers: History in Faces” will be able to learn about the capital’s past through the prism of economics. This was announced by Vladimir Efimov, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Economic Policy and Property and Land Relations.

“The procurement market does not exist and has never existed on its own. It has a special role in the structure of the economy of a state or a particular region. The need for the supply of goods and provision of services existed long before the adoption of Federal Law No. 94 and the creation of the contract system. Historians believe that the phenomenon of government procurement has existed for more than three hundred years. It is necessary to know their history in order to understand how the capital’s economy developed and who was its driving force. The series of historical lectures, which will be held in the “Trading Exchange” space, will be of interest to a wide audience – from schoolchildren and students to today’s entrepreneurs,”- said Vladimir Efimov.

He invited Moscow experts and everyone who is interested in the history of the capital and is ready to share their knowledge to participate in the project as lecturers. Moscow experts from the “I’ll Show You Moscow” association were among the first to respond to the invitation, said Gennady Degtev, head of the Moscow City Department for Competition Policy.

“The project is open, so any Moscow expert can act as a lecturer, whose presentation corresponds to the topic of the project and will be of interest to a wide audience. The idea of ​​looking at the capital’s past through the prism of economics has already been supported by representatives of the “I’ll Show You Moscow” association. At the first lecture of the project “Moscow Suppliers: History in Persons” you will be able to find out what competition was like in the pre-revolutionary capital, how it could be influenced, what the highest quality mark was and what was necessary in order to become its honorary owner.”, - said Gennady Degtev.

• how the honorary title of Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty arose;
• who are the most famous suppliers of products to the imperial table;
• which famous confectionery factories in Moscow supplied chocolate for the emperor’s breakfast;
• who invented saiki with raisins.

Participation free, the first lecture was given by Project Manager Svetlana Zubakina (Pikhovkina), project website - http://mos-tender.com/historical

Majesty is an honorary title for a number of brands in the Russian Empire.

Watches from the St. Petersburg factory of Pavel Bure

Characteristic

Merchants who constantly supplied goods to the court received the right to be called “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty.”

Since 1862, the use of the state coat of arms on signs and products has been permitted for manufacturers, artists and craftsmen who supplied the items they prepared to the Highest Court or carried out orders for the Court over a period of 8-10 years.

In total, at the beginning of the 20th century, there were 30-40 companies that had this title. Cognac producer Shustov N.L. achieved this status for a total of 38 years. Other well-known suppliers of the court were the progenitor of the Smirnoff brand, P. A. Smirnov, chocolate manufacturer Theodor Einem, founder of the Einem factory ( see confectionery factory "Red October"), confectionery establishment Abrikosov ( see Babaev's confectionery factory), manufacturer of sewing machines "Singer", car manufacturers Russo-Balt and Mercedes, jewelry house Faberge, grocery store Eliseevsky, watch manufacturers Pavel Bure, Tissot and Breguet.

After the Bolsheviks came to power, former suppliers to the imperial court were subject to nationalization, and many production facilities stopped. "Singer" resumed work in 1923 under the brand name "Gosshveymashina", then - "Podolsk Mechanical Plant". The founder of the Smirnov brand emigrated to France, after which the French spelling of the brand (“Smirnoff”) spread, and the production of Russo-Balt cars ceased.

Sign

In 1901, a new image of the Supplier's sign was approved. Under the shield there was a ribbon indicating the status of the Supplier ( “The Highest Court” - “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty”, “Empress Maria Feodorovna”, “Empress Alexandra Feodorovna” or Grand Dukes and Duchesses). The year the title was awarded was indicated, and a special certificate was issued from the Chancellery of the Ministry of the Imperial Household, with a color image of the sign.

List

The indicated year is the time of obtaining the title.

A

B

• Glass and crystal production enterprise - Bakhmetev plant
• Becker, Jacob- “Piano Factory Jacob Becker” (since 1867)
• Bloom, Johan- jeweler
• Bock, Karl Ivanovich- Trading house of master jeweler K. Bok
• Borman, Grigory Nikolaevich- pastry chef, "Georges Bormann". See Kharkov confectionery factory, modern. Biscuit-Chocolate.
• M. P. Borodina and comp.- trading house; stationery; owners: Rosset Felix Feliksovich and his wife Rosset Elizaveta Pavlovna (since 1905)
• Bure, Pavel Karlovich- watch
• Heinrich Brocard- Partnership for perfumery production "Brocard and Co."

IN

G

D

E

Z

AND

TO

L

• Lamanova, Nadezhda Petrovna- fashion designer
• Lagidze, Mitrofan Varlamovich- mineral water. Modern Tikhvin lemonade factory.
• Fast Printing Association A. A. Levenson(since 1896)

M

N

ABOUT

P

R

WITH

T

R

• "A. Ralle and Co.- perfumes

F

C

• Zimmerman, Yuliy Genrikhovich- musical instruments

Sh

SCH

• A. Shcherbakov, I. F. Yates- paper. See Assumption Paper Mill (execution 1994)

E

I

• Iisakki Järvenpää(Iisakki Järvenpää) - puukko knives, since 1888
• Yakovlev P.D. - crews

B

C

L

T

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Links

• - attempt at renewal under the administration of the President of the Russian Federation

Literature

• V.V. Skurlov and A.N. Ivanov “Suppliers of the Highest Court.” St. Petersburg, 2002

Notes

An excerpt characterizing the Supplier of His Imperial Majesty's Court

The next day, Prince Andrei went to the Rostovs for dinner, as Count Ilya Andreich called him, and spent the whole day with them.
Everyone in the house felt for whom Prince Andrei was traveling, and he, without hiding, tried to be with Natasha all day. Not only in Natasha’s frightened, but happy and enthusiastic soul, but in the whole house one could feel the fear of something important that was about to happen. The Countess looked at Prince Andrei with sad and seriously stern eyes when he spoke to Natasha, and timidly and feignedly began some insignificant conversation as soon as he looked back at her. Sonya was afraid to leave Natasha and was afraid to be a hindrance when she was with them. Natasha turned pale with fear of anticipation when she remained alone with him for minutes. Prince Andrei amazed her with his timidity. She felt that he needed to tell her something, but that he could not bring himself to do so.
When Prince Andrey left in the evening, the Countess came up to Natasha and said in a whisper:
- Well?
“Mom, for God’s sake don’t ask me anything now.” “You can’t say that,” Natasha said.
But despite this, that evening Natasha, sometimes excited, sometimes frightened, with fixed eyes, lay for a long time in her mother’s bed. Either she told her how he praised her, then how he said that he would go abroad, then how he asked where they would live this summer, then how he asked her about Boris.
- But this, this... has never happened to me! - she said. “Only I’m scared in front of him, I’m always scared in front of him, what does that mean?” That means it's real, right? Mom, are you sleeping?
“No, my soul, I’m scared myself,” answered the mother. - Go.
- I won’t sleep anyway. What nonsense is it to sleep? Mom, mom, this has never happened to me! - she said with surprise and fear at the feeling that she recognized in herself. – And could we think!...
It seemed to Natasha that even when she first saw Prince Andrey in Otradnoye, she fell in love with him. She seemed to be frightened by this strange, unexpected happiness, that the one whom she had chosen back then (she was firmly convinced of this), that the same one had now met her again, and, it seemed, was not indifferent to her. “And he had to come to St. Petersburg on purpose now that we are here. And we had to meet at this ball. It's all fate. It is clear that this is fate, that all this was leading to this. Even then, as soon as I saw him, I felt something special.”
- What else did he tell you? What verses are these? Read... - the mother said thoughtfully, asking about the poems that Prince Andrei wrote in Natasha’s album.
“Mom, isn’t it a shame that he’s a widower?”
- That's enough, Natasha. Pray to God. Les Marieiages se font dans les cieux. [Marriages are made in heaven.]
- Darling, mother, how I love you, how good it makes me feel! – Natasha shouted, crying tears of happiness and excitement and hugging her mother.
At the same time, Prince Andrei was sitting with Pierre and telling him about his love for Natasha and his firm intention to marry her.

On this day, Countess Elena Vasilyevna had a reception, there was a French envoy, there was a prince, who had recently become a frequent visitor to the countess’s house, and many brilliant ladies and men. Pierre was downstairs, walked through the halls, and amazed all the guests with his concentrated, absent-minded and gloomy appearance.
Since the time of the ball, Pierre had felt the approaching attacks of hypochondria and with desperate effort tried to fight against them. From the time the prince became close to his wife, Pierre was unexpectedly granted a chamberlain, and from that time on he began to feel heaviness and shame in large society, and more often the old gloomy thoughts about the futility of everything human began to come to him. At the same time, the feeling he noticed between Natasha, whom he protected, and Prince Andrei, the contrast between his position and the position of his friend, further intensified this gloomy mood. He equally tried to avoid thoughts about his wife and about Natasha and Prince Andrei. Again everything seemed insignificant to him in comparison with eternity, again the question presented itself: “why?” And he forced himself to work day and night on Masonic works, hoping to ward off the approach of the evil spirit. Pierre, at 12 o'clock, having left the countess's chambers, was sitting upstairs in a smoky, low room, in a worn dressing gown in front of the table, copying out authentic Scottish acts, when someone entered his room. It was Prince Andrei.
“Oh, it’s you,” said Pierre with an absent-minded and dissatisfied look. “And I’m working,” he said, pointing to a notebook with that look of salvation from the hardships of life with which unhappy people look at their work.
Prince Andrei, with a radiant, enthusiastic face and renewed life, stopped in front of Pierre and, not noticing his sad face, smiled at him with the egoism of happiness.
“Well, my soul,” he said, “yesterday I wanted to tell you and today I came to you for this.” I've never experienced anything like it. I'm in love, my friend.
Pierre suddenly sighed heavily and collapsed with his heavy body on the sofa, next to Prince Andrei.
- To Natasha Rostova, right? - he said.
- Yes, yes, who? I would never believe it, but this feeling is stronger than me. Yesterday I suffered, I suffered, but I wouldn’t give up this torment for anything in the world. I haven't lived before. Now only I live, but I cannot live without her. But can she love me?... I'm too old for her... What aren't you saying?...
- I? I? “What did I tell you,” Pierre suddenly said, getting up and starting to walk around the room. - I always thought this... This girl is such a treasure, such... This is a rare girl... Dear friend, I ask you, don’t get smart, don’t doubt, get married, get married and get married... And I’m sure that there will be no happier person than you.
- But she!
- She loves you.
“Don’t talk nonsense...” said Prince Andrei, smiling and looking into Pierre’s eyes.
“He loves me, I know,” Pierre shouted angrily.
“No, listen,” said Prince Andrei, stopping him by the hand. – Do you know what situation I’m in? I need to tell everything to someone.
“Well, well, say, I’m very glad,” said Pierre, and indeed his face changed, the wrinkles smoothed out, and he joyfully listened to Prince Andrei. Prince Andrei seemed and was a completely different, new person. Where was his melancholy, his contempt for life, his disappointment? Pierre was the only person to whom he dared to speak; but he expressed to him everything that was in his soul. Either he easily and boldly made plans for a long future, talked about how he could not sacrifice his happiness for the whim of his father, how he would force his father to agree to this marriage and love her or do without his consent, then he was surprised how something strange, alien, independent of him, influenced by the feeling that possessed him.
“I wouldn’t believe anyone who told me that I could love like that,” said Prince Andrei. “This is not at all the feeling that I had before.” The whole world is divided for me into two halves: one - she and there is all the happiness of hope, light; the other half is everything where she is not there, there is all despondency and darkness...
“Darkness and gloom,” Pierre repeated, “yes, yes, I understand that.”
– I can’t help but love the world, it’s not my fault. And I'm very happy. You understand me? I know you're happy for me.
“Yes, yes,” Pierre confirmed, looking at his friend with tender and sad eyes. The brighter the fate of Prince Andrei seemed to him, the darker his own seemed.

To get married, the consent of the father was needed, and for this, the next day, Prince Andrei went to his father.
The father, with outward calm but inner anger, accepted his son’s message. He could not understand that anyone would want to change life, to introduce something new into it, when life was already ending for him. “If only they would let me live the way I want, and then we would do what we wanted,” the old man said to himself. With his son, however, he used the diplomacy that he used on important occasions. Taking a calm tone, he discussed the whole matter.
Firstly, the marriage was not brilliant in terms of kinship, wealth and nobility. Secondly, Prince Andrei was not in his first youth and was in poor health (the old man was especially careful about this), and she was very young. Thirdly, there was a son whom it was a pity to give to the girl. Fourthly, finally,” said the father, looking mockingly at his son, “I ask you, postpone the matter for a year, go abroad, get treatment, find, as you want, a German for Prince Nikolai, and then, if it’s love, passion, stubbornness, whatever you want, so great, then get married.
“And this is my last word, you know, my last...” the prince finished in a tone that showed that nothing would force him to change his decision.

The idea of ​​marking the quality of Russian goods with a special sign belonged to Peter I at the beginning of the 18th century. It was during his reign that the products of the Ural breeders Demidovs for the first time in the country began to be branded with the “Sable Sign”. And in 1856, the sign “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty” was established.

The title “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty” was valued in Russia above class rank. It wasn't easy to get it. There was a whole system of requirements that the applicant had to satisfy. The title was given “for products of excellent quality, with an extensive and completely rational structure of the establishments themselves.”
Applicants had to carry out orders for the Court for at least eight years, participate in all provincial exhibitions approved by the Russian Ministry of Finance and the Emperor personally, and be included in the official “List of Exhibits Awarded a Certificate of Merit.” During this entire period there should not have been a single complaint from consumers. Often, contenders for the title had to wait for decades.

The title “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty” was a kind of Russian state brand, known throughout the world. The Ministry of the Imperial Household could at any time deprive a company of its title if product quality standards were not confirmed.

Everything that was made for the imperial family was subject to the strictest selection and control. Firms wishing to become suppliers entered into serious competition, which resulted in products of the highest quality. The state thus actively contributed to the creation and promotion of the best Russian goods and products to the domestic and foreign markets.

By the 40s of the 19th century, the procedure for assigning the title “Supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty” had finally taken shape. The title was awarded by the emperor himself. The title of supplier could not be transferred from one manufacturer to another. It was assigned not to the enterprise, but to the owner personally; in the event of a change of owner, the new owner or heir was required to receive the title again. The title was given only for the period of supplies.

In 1901, this title was awarded by the office of the Ministry of the Imperial Household at the request of suppliers twice a year, at Easter and Christmas. It must be admitted that the “rules of the game” were very strict, and this title was truly earned by both the highest quality of products and an impeccable business reputation.

After 1917, the title “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty” was abolished.

Badge of "Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty"

In 1824, merchants who constantly supplied goods to the court received the right to be called “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty.” In 1856, Alexander II introduced the honorary title of “Supplier of the Highest Court and Grand Ducal Courts”, approved the regulations and type of sign. Since 1862, the use of the state coat of arms on signs and products has been permitted for manufacturers and artisans who supplied the items they prepared to the Imperial Court.

The title “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty” was valued above class rank and was printed not only on the product and packaging, but also on signs, letterheads, business cards, and was even placed on the owner’s house.

In 1901, a new image of the Supplier's sign was approved. Under the shield there was a ribbon indicating the status of the Supplier ( “The Highest Court” - “Supplier of the Court of His Imperial Majesty”, “Empress Maria Feodorovna”, “Empress Alexandra Feodorovna” or Grand Dukes and Duchesses). The year the title was awarded was indicated, and a special certificate was issued from the Chancellery of the Ministry of the Imperial Household, with a color image of the sign. Suppliers actively used the state emblem in their advertising. For the 19th – early 20th centuries. it was a real “quality mark” for the products produced by the company.

History of the trading house "Eliseev Brothers"

The Eliseev Brothers trading partnership opened at the beginning of the 20th century. the famous “Eliseevsky” store of colonial goods in St. Petersburg. The State Archives of the Yaroslavl Region preserved documents about the famous Yaroslavl and St. Petersburg merchant Pyotr Eliseevich Eliseev and his family. Based on archival documents, it was possible to clarify many facts from his life and biography, identify information about the origin of his family, and draw up a genealogy of the Eliseev family.

The most ancient document stored in the State Archives of the Yaroslavl Region and containing information about representatives of the Eliseev family is the revision tale of the estate of the Spasopesotsky Monastery of the village of Novoselka, Lutsk camp, Rostov-Pereslavl province, Moscow province for 1745. In the revision tales, people were recorded who paid the so-called capitation salary. In 1745, only the male population of the state received a capitation salary. Consequently, only men are listed in the revision tale of 1745. So, among the monastic peasants of the village of Novoselka there are: Ivan Gerasimovich - 72 years old, his two sons: Timofey 45 years old and Semyon 28 years old, and a grandson from his eldest son 8 years old. But the revision tale of 1795 already contains more extensive information about the Eliseev family. The sons and grandsons of Ivan Gerasimovich are repeated here. Their wives, children and even grandchildren are listed, among whom is 19-year-old Pyotr Eliseevich. It is his fate that will turn out completely differently than that of his brothers and other relatives. The next revision tale was compiled in 1811, when the village of Novoselka already belonged to the Rodionovskaya economic volost of the Yaroslavl district.

The church of the village of Yakovtsevo in the former Yaroslavl district of the Yaroslavl province (now Borisoglebsky district of the Yaroslavl region), the parish of which included the village of Novoselka - the homeland of the Eliseev family. Modern look. Photo 2000

In this tale, again only men are recorded and the children of Peter Eliseevich are indicated in detail, who later played a very important role in the success of the family business: Sergei (10 years old), Grigory (7 years old), born on September 25, 1804, and Stepan (5 years old), born October 28, 1806. The village of Novoselka was part of the parish of the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in the village of Yakovtsevo. The confessional paintings and metric books of this church have been preserved (unfortunately, not completely). The lists list parishioners who were present and absent from confession. Among them is the Eliseev family: the head of the family is Elisey Semenovich, his wife is Pelageya Yakovlevna, their three sons are Ignatius, Peter and Vasily with their wives and children. At the end of 1811, all the Eliseevs, except Ignatius, Peter and Vasily, were at confession. Against the name of the Eliseev brothers in the confessional list it is noted: “Were not on leave.” Therefore, it can be assumed that already at the beginning of the 19th century Pyotr Eliseev was engaged in latrine farming. His permanent place of residence was still in the village of Novoselka. The last time Pyotr Eliseev and his family were mentioned among state-owned peasants was according to the seventh revision of 1816. In the confessional lists for 1825, Peter’s family is not indicated, unlike the families of the brothers Ignatius and Vasily In St. Petersburg, the name of P.E. Eliseev is mentioned in connection with the opening of his own trading store in 1813, at 18 Nevsky Prospekt, which sold wine and fruit. Trade was brisk, and Eliseev gained a reputation as an honest and fair merchant. In 1819, Eliseev joined the merchant class with his entire family. As for the Eliseev surname, it apparently arose from the name of Elisey Semenovich. Peasants, even if they had a surname, were recorded in documents only by their first name and patronymic. In this case, Peter, Eliseev’s son, upon moving from peasants to the merchant class, became Peter Eliseevich Eliseev.

The wines of the Eliseevs on Vasilyevsky Island in St. Petersburg were in demand not only in Russia, but also in London, New York, Paris, even in Bordeaux. The Eliseev wines received awards at many international exhibitions. In the 50s of the 19th century, the affairs of the Eliseevs reached colossal proportions. Among Russian importers, the company had no equal in terms of the number of orders. The best trading houses in Europe sought to establish relationships with Eliseev, thanks to which the company received goods of the highest quality. Eliseevsky - it was a brand, a symbol of high class, captured forever by A.N. Tolstoy in the novel “Walking Through Torment”: “...our tea and sausage are first-class, from the Eliseevs.” In 1874, the Eliseev Brothers trading house was awarded the honorary title “Supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty.”

The Eliseev Brothers trading house was created in 1857, and in 1874 it already became a supplier to the Court of His Imperial Majesty. Grigory Eliseev’s bold idea was to create a network of stores offering customers a full range of high-quality food products and wines. The first large "Eliseevsky" stores appeared in St. Petersburg and Kyiv towards the end of the 19th century. Five departments were opened in the Moscow Eliseevsky: grocery, confectionery, colonial-gastronomic goods, Baccarat crystal and the largest fruit department. The grocery store introduced the residents of the capital to overseas delicacies: special olive oil was brought from Provence, French truffles, oysters, coconuts, and bananas were sold there. In addition to overseas products, delicacies from all over Russia were sold here: hams, balyki from white and sturgeon fish, the best caviar. Eliseevsky had a huge selection of tea and coffee. "Eliseevsky" was not a store exclusively for wealthy customers; in addition to delicacies, one could buy food here at regular prices. The grocery store monitored product quality very strictly. The salaries of the employees were very high, but the requirements were also appropriate. In addition to a huge selection of goods, Eliseevsky was distinguished by a huge range of its production. There were bakeries, oil-pressing, salting and smoking shops, and the production of jams, marmalades, roasting coffee beans, bottling wines, drinks, etc. was established.

The Eliseev merchants have also always been famous for their generosity in the field of charity. To obtain more accurate data, I examined the balance sheets of the Eliseev Brothers trading house. It turned out that they spent more than 25% of their annual income on the needs of the houses and churches they looked after.

G.G. Eliseev characterized his dynasty this way: “First of all, with particular joy, I must draw attention to the fact that the distinctive feature of the representatives of our family was selfless devotion to the Orthodox faith, the Russian Tsar and their homeland.”

The Eliseevs were trustees of schools and colleges, contributing to the prosperity of Russian education and thereby Russia as a whole. Hospital care also occupied one of the most important places in the family's charity. It was built by them House of care for widows and orphans of clergy, a house of free apartments and a free women's handicraft school was created. Several churches were built at the expense of the Eliseevs, including two in St. Petersburg.

Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (St. Petersburg) built at the expense of the Eliseev merchants