Costume ball 1903 — the most famous masquerade last Emperor of Russia

In 1903, 11 and 13 February, during the reign of the last Russian Emperor Nicholas II took place on the famous costume ball in honor of 290 anniversary of Romanov rule. Ball held at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, in two stages. All the guests were dressed in sumptuous costumes of the seventeenth century, "the pre-Petrine times", which was designed by artist Sergey Solomko and with the involvement of specialists in this historical period.

Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, who had a first cousin once removed of the Emperor, recalled that "it was the last great court ball in the history of the Empire."

Nicholas II appeared before the nobles in the output gown of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich Romanov in opasne and caftan of gold brocade, in the Royal cap and a scepter (now kept in the Armory). Sewed a suit for Nicholas theatrical costumier of the Imperial theatres I. Caffi, he was helped by two dressmakers, whose names have not been preserved. Royal hat made in a hat shop brothers Bruno, supplier to the Imperial court since 1872.

Empress Alexandra was dressed as the Queen Maria Ilyinichna Miloslavskaya.

For the ball from the Armoury chamber of the Moscow Kremlin was discharged 38 authentic items of the Royal costume of XVII century.

Of them for the costume of Nicholas II, were selected 16. Among them was the pearl wrist that belonged to the son of Ivan the terrible, Tsar Fyodor Ivanovich.

As a complement to the suit used a genuine scepter of Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich. Buttons and stripes on the suit was a Russian work of the XVII century.

Memoirs of an eyewitness: "the Impression was fabulous — from the weight of ancient national costume, richly decorated with rare furs, gorgeous diamonds, pearls and semi-precious stones, for the most part in the old rims. On this day, the family jewels appeared in such abundance that surpassed all expectations".

At the request of the Empress of the best photographers of St. Petersburg made a single portraits of members of masquerade and group photos.

In 1911, the German factory of card games by "Dondorf" (Frankfurt am main) was developed sketches for a deck of playing cards "Russian style" — with figures in costume, repeating the costumes of the participants of the ball. The cards were printed in St. Petersburg in the Alexander manufactory, their release was timed to the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.