Grand State Emblem of the Russian Empire to be handed over to Museum of Modern History

In a ceremony held in the framework of an exhibition called "Russia's Major Symbol," the Grand State Emblem of the Russian Empire will be handed over to the State Central Museum of Modern History for eternal keeping. The ceremony, which the museum will host on Wednesday, was timed to coincide with the 120th anniversary of the Grand State Emblem.

For the first time in history, the Grand State Emblem of the Russian Empire was made of metal and rare wood species. It was made by a workshop that unites artists, stone and wood carvers, and jewellers.

On July 24th, 1882 (August 6th new style), Russian Emperor Alexander III signed a draft of the Grand State Emblem. An order approving the draft was issued in October of the same year.

All in all, the exhibition features 20 emblems, including those of various cities and state departments. The Emblem of St. Petersburg, which was approved in 1780, is the oldest; the youngest one is the emblem of Magnitogorsk, which was approved in 1993.

Emblems of various departments, including those of the Russian ministry of taxes and dues, of the Federal Security Service and others, are also on display. "The state register kept by the Heraldic Service of the Russian President contains more than 1,000 emblems," said Konstantin Mochenov, the Executive Director of the Union of Russian Heraldists.