Brooch produced to commemorate the centenary of the Circus on Fontanka, Leningrad, 1977
Brooch
1977 (made)
1977 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This brooch was produced in 1977 to commemorate the centenary of the Circus on Fontanka, in the Russian city known then as Leningrad. Its original name was St Petersburg but it was changed to Leningrad in 1924 after the death of the creator of the Soviet communist party Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. It reverted to St Petersburg in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR.
The circus depicted on this brooch is the Circus on Fontanka, the first purpose-built stone Russian circus designed by the architect V.A. Kenel which opened on 26 December 1877. Unlike some other permanent circus buildings in Europe such as the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris, it does not look completely round from the exterior but has a flat theatre-like portico, behind which there is a circular building. It was built by the Italian circus peformer, rider and trainer Gaetano Ciniselli, the head of a large circus family who originally came to St.Petersburg on tour in 1847. With its perfect proportions and elegant interior decor with red velvet and gilding, the new circus was considered one of the most beautiful circus buildings in Europe. The building underwent major renovations which were completed by the 2003-2004 season, and now operates as The Bolshoi-St Petersburg State Circus.
The circus depicted on this brooch is the Circus on Fontanka, the first purpose-built stone Russian circus designed by the architect V.A. Kenel which opened on 26 December 1877. Unlike some other permanent circus buildings in Europe such as the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris, it does not look completely round from the exterior but has a flat theatre-like portico, behind which there is a circular building. It was built by the Italian circus peformer, rider and trainer Gaetano Ciniselli, the head of a large circus family who originally came to St.Petersburg on tour in 1847. With its perfect proportions and elegant interior decor with red velvet and gilding, the new circus was considered one of the most beautiful circus buildings in Europe. The building underwent major renovations which were completed by the 2003-2004 season, and now operates as The Bolshoi-St Petersburg State Circus.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Brooch produced to commemorate the centenary of the Circus on Fontanka, Leningrad, 1977 |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Brooch commemorating 100 years of circus in Leningrad. Rolled gold and enamel, Russian, 1977. |
| Physical description | Rolled gold brooch with pin fastening, the front face of sky blue enamelled ground with a central raised image of a Leningrad circus building, above which is the number 100, and the dates 1877 1977 in banners. The words LENINGRAD CIRCUS are incised in cyrillic uppercase lettering around the image of the circus, below which to either side is a raised image of a rearing Liberty horse. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Given by David Fitzroy |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This brooch was produced in 1977 to commemorate the centenary of the Circus on Fontanka, in the Russian city known then as Leningrad. Its original name was St Petersburg but it was changed to Leningrad in 1924 after the death of the creator of the Soviet communist party Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. It reverted to St Petersburg in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR. The circus depicted on this brooch is the Circus on Fontanka, the first purpose-built stone Russian circus designed by the architect V.A. Kenel which opened on 26 December 1877. Unlike some other permanent circus buildings in Europe such as the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris, it does not look completely round from the exterior but has a flat theatre-like portico, behind which there is a circular building. It was built by the Italian circus peformer, rider and trainer Gaetano Ciniselli, the head of a large circus family who originally came to St.Petersburg on tour in 1847. With its perfect proportions and elegant interior decor with red velvet and gilding, the new circus was considered one of the most beautiful circus buildings in Europe. The building underwent major renovations which were completed by the 2003-2004 season, and now operates as The Bolshoi-St Petersburg State Circus. |
| Bibliographic reference | |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | S.347:1-2011 |
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| Record created | May 20, 2011 |
| Record URL |
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