For those of you going to Russia anytime soon (TerilynnS!) I just thought I'd share this photo I scanned of one of my favorite souveniers.
I would have happily paid a few dollars each for some of these pins...some of them are really special. But the entire hat loaded with pins was only ten dollars. What a bargain! We bought a few of the hats and gave them away as gifts when we got home and people just loved them. I take a pin off the hat now and then and wear it as a brooch, and they always get lots of attention. I even wore the big dangling medal (the one that's on the back) on formal night one time on a cruise...on a black velvet jacket. It looked great and people were asking me where I got it!!
I'd just be careful where you wear some of them...especially if you visit a former Soviet country...
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Hi TexasHorseLady Thank you for the photos. The awards and medals you wear are becoming quite popular with collectors in the west with trading clubs and swap meets held through out the US. They are of couse copies since the originals are limited for export without a license because they are historical artifacts valued by the Russians. The originals represent every period and major event during the Soviet Era and were generally worn with pride, as they still are by older people on holidays. There is an interesting booklet available from larger books stores here such as the famous Dom Kinigi (House of Books) on Nevsky pr. for about 30 rubles($1.10) that describes each one and its history. Several of these pins I recognize as being significant honors from that period and are featured in the book. If you have a cruiser friend coming over to the Baltics have them bring a copy of that book for you, I am sure you would appreciate learning the connection between the city and these medals.
As far as being careful wearing them, most people would see them as colorful pins and no more but those who know them would probably appreciate that others knew what they were and that they represented important events in the lives of people during that time.
There is no mistaking the originals with these copies, the originals were made to fine jewelery standards so no one is going to stop you from taking these from the country. I think these medals represent a closer connection to St Petersburg than the usual tourist purchases of nesting dolls and lacquered boxes which are not related to St Petersburg at all. Other appropriate gifts would include original art since this is the art capital of Eastern Europe and if not the whole of Europe, fine jewelery, quality china(the Lomonosov factory and museum is here), photobooks of the palaces and museums, and fashion furs are all closely related to St Petersburg.
Hi TexasHorseLady Thank you for the photos. The awards and medals you wear are becoming quite popular with collectors in the west with trading clubs and swap meets held through out the US. They are of couse copies since the originals are limited for export without a license because they are historical artifacts valued by the Russians. The originals represent every period and major event during the Soviet Era and were generally worn with pride, as they still are by older people on holidays. There is an interesting booklet available from larger books stores here such as the famous Dom Kinigi (House of Books) on Nevsky pr. for about 30 rubles($1.10) that describes each one and its history. Several of these pins I recognize as being significant honors from that period and are featured in the book. If you have a cruiser friend coming over to the Baltics have them bring a copy of that book for you, I am sure you would appreciate learning the connection between the city and these medals.
As far as being careful wearing them, most people would see them as colorful pins and no more but those who know them would probably appreciate that others knew what they were and that they represented important events in the lives of people during that time.
There is no mistaking the originals with these copies, the originals were made to fine jewelery standards so no one is going to stop you from taking these from the country. I think these medals represent a closer connection to St Petersburg than the usual tourist purchases of nesting dolls and lacquered boxes which are not related to St Petersburg at all. Other appropriate gifts would include original art since this is the art capital of Eastern Europe and if not the whole of Europe, fine jewelery, quality china(the Lomonosov factory and museum is here), photobooks of the palaces and museums, and fashion furs are all closely related to St Petersburg.
Hello Stan from St Petersburg!
How wonderful to hear from an expert on this subject. I really appreciate your taking the time to respond about the pins.
I knew they could not be the real thing and must be replicas...the real thing would surely cost more than I paid. But as far as replicas go, they are sure nicely made and have such wonderful detail. I recognized a few of the symbols on them and I knew right away they were of historical value, if nothing else. But I didn't know people would ever collect them. Now I really wish I had bought several more of the hats!
It's also good to hear that I wouldn't be offending someone by wearing them wherever I go. When I was in Tallin I saw anti-Soviet graffiti on a few walls, and that's what made me start thinking about where displaying one might not be appropriate. But I think you have a point...if they see an American tourist wearing a pin with an old Soviet symbol symbol they would probably think it was just a souvenier.
I'll look into that book you described. I believe I do know someone going over there soon who might spot it for sale (TerilynnS...are you reading this? )
Thank you again for your St Petersburg perspective and I hope we hear more from you...
We toured Russia when it was the Soviet Union. I purchased some hand painted enamel boxes, trimmed with 24k gold. Do they still sell them? They are really beautiful.
We toured Russia when it was the Soviet Union. I purchased some hand painted enamel boxes, trimmed with 24k gold. Do they still sell them? They are really beautiful.
When we were there a few years ago I saw them all over the place. There was a huge range in quality from one to another. I bought a few of the inexpensive ones as gifts and then splurged and spent a lot more on one really nice one for me. The difference in quality is striking, with the nice one being much better quality, with the gold trim you mentioned, and signed by the artist.
Here's a photo (don't you love scanners?) of the box I bought. I don't know how clear this will appear when I upload it, but all that yellow is gold.
When we were there a few years ago I saw them all over the place. There was a huge range in quality from one to another. I bought a few of the inexpensive ones as gifts and then splurged and spent a lot more on one really nice one for me. The difference in quality is striking, with the nice one being much better quality, with the gold trim you mentioned, and signed by the artist.
Here's a photo (don't you love scanners?) of the box I bought. I don't know how clear this will appear when I upload it, but all that yellow is gold.
Thanks. Quite similar to mine, except mine are more like royal landscapes. I think the gold trim is exquisite. There were cheaper ones when we there also, so some things haven't changed much. I would love to go back to Moscow to see the changes since Communism fell. Elitism reigned in that city those days. We were inside Russia for 10 days and did not have a clue as to what was happening in the "real world." It was eerie and fascinating.
I'm really getting excited about this trip! Thanks to THL, Kathy and STAN for the posts! AllieMan and I are still trying to work out the packing arrangement so we have enough room to bring stuff back without going over our limit on British Airways! (I keep telling myself...buy SMALL gifts!)
We toured Russia when it was the Soviet Union. I purchased some hand painted enamel boxes, trimmed with 24k gold. Do they still sell them? They are really beautiful.
Hello Cathy, Lacquered boxes are popular tourist gifts but the high quality type you are referring to are done by artists in St Petersburg and in the Golden Triangle north of Moscow. The locally created boxes are true works of art and have prices to match. If you return, you will love stopping by Ananov Galleries on Nevsky pr where they feature objects of art such as the Fabrage company was known for. On Mala Morskaya close to Nevsky prospekt and the Hermitage is the new beautiful Fabrage studios and gallery. Even though they are selling these items, both are like museums and they treat "lookers" as if they were buyers. Very elegant.
If you are looking for more common paper or wooden boxes( but still beautiful) most tourist shops have them. There are different grades of tourist shops however and those along Nevsky pr are pretty upscale with finer examples. The best deals however are available at the open air market right across the street from the Church on Spilled Blood. The vendors there expect haggling and they even bid against other vendors since they are just a feet apart. The boxes there are about $12 for one 4x 10 in and larger boxes reach up to $40, still a good deal. The collector type which are not found in those markets run from $200-3,000 and gain in value everyday.
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A great souvenier from RUSSIA
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