|
.
.
Copies
of the Prince's literary works have been preserved as well (Balkanska
carica -The Balkan Empress, Knjaz Arvanit - Prince
Arvanit, Hajdana), translated to a dozen European
languages, even to Dutch, with a circulation of 50 copies. The first
copy of The Balkan Empress is displayed – this play
was performed on many stages in Europe (Novi Sad, Belgrade, Berlin,
Petersburg, London), printed in Cetinje in 1886. The album entitled The
Petrović Njegoš Dynasty, printed in 1910, made
especially for the ruler of Montenegro, is displayed as well.
“A copy of this album, delivered by the committee to His
Royal Highness Prince Nikola I, was printed on Japanese paper and
bound in deluxe covers of saffian and enamel designed by prof. Bela
Ssikos-Sessia in Zagreb; the enamel work for the covers was done by
Ivan Bauer in Zagreb, and the silver plaque with the potraits of His
Royal Highness Prince Nikola I and Princess Milena was done by Mr.
Rudolf Valdec in Zagreb... The printed decorations and initials were
drawn after the themes from old church manuscripts of Cetinje
Monastery; the coats-of-arms were drawn after the original designs of
prof. Milo Kovacevic from Cetinje.”
The
music books and the photocomposed
edition of Ostromir’s Gospel
..
Photocomposed
edition of Ostromir’s Gospel, the oldest monument of Russian
literacy in Old Slavonic dating from 1056, was given as a present to
Prince Nikola (Glas Crnogorca, 10th issue,
5 March, 1893).
..
.
Indonesian
and Venetian room
.
The
furniture collection consists of several sets possessing pure
stylistic features (Louis XV, Louis XVI, secession, second empire) and
a large number of individual pieces (writing-desks, armchairs, chests
of drawers etc). Due to scarce information, it is not possible to
determine the precise place, mode and time of their purchase. Some of
the bills, however, contain such information, for example,
accompanying the price of 85.90 florins for “some gold objects that
arrived from Trieste for the hall to the Holy Court”, or that of 800
florins “for the payment of furniture made in Trieste for the
Prince’s Palace” (National Museum, Library and Archives
Department, Senate Papers, 1868, doc. no. 209, dated 15 September and
24 October). The luxury of the ambience is intensified by the gilt
Venetian mirrors with pedestals, decorative screens, big armchairs (savanarola,
bergere), writing-desks, billiard-table with props, card tables,
easels, chests with dynastic heraldry painted or carved etc.
Precious
pieces of palace furniture have been preserved (the Indonesian hall
and an incomplete dining-room set with six sgabello chairs),
inherited from the old palace of Prince Danilo
..
.
Dining
rooms
.
The
rich ethnographic-historical collection, alongside the national
costumes of the Montenegrin royal couple and members of their
immediate family, contains extremely valuable items from numerous
notable people of the time. The beauty and picturesque of the
Montenegrin costume fascinated many travel writers and artists;
compared to it, they rightfully stated, no richer or more luxurious
existed. Dressed in the national costume, in the country or abroad,
Nikola I attracted attention wherever he went: “the Viennese cannot
stop admiring the rich Montenegrin costume and even more the heroic
Montenegrin pride” (Pančevac, issue 39, 17 May 1873).
The collection includes also the uniforms of King Nikola and his sons
Danilo, Mirko and Petar, as well as those of Montenegrin diplomats.
The
rich court inventory includes dishes and textiles (table and bed
linen). These objects give the most detailed picture of the culture
and the manner of court life in Cetinje, revealing refined taste and
careful selection made by the Petrović Njegoš family. Several
different styles are evidently present, as well as the effort to
combine them with the traditional Montenegrin elements, which gives
particular charm and distinction to the interior. The furniture in
the family dining room is baroque
and
the cabinets contain precious German porcelain sets.
.
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