If you walked into the Winter Palace in 1780, you wouldn't just see gold. You’d see a woman trying to out-Europe Europe. Catherine II—the minor German princess who took Russia by force—wasn’t just "greedy" for art; she used Catherine the Great furniture as a weapon of soft power. She wanted to prove Russia wasn't some backwater of bears and beards.
She succeeded.
But honestly, most people today only know the salacious rumors. They want to hear about the "Erotic Cabinet." While we’ll get to the truth of that (it’s complicated), the real story of her decor is much weirder and more impressive. We’re talking about chairs made of solid steel that look like they’re dripping in diamonds and desks with more trapdoors than a magician’s stage.
The Roentgen Desks: 18th-Century Transformers
Catherine had a thing for David Roentgen. He was basically the Steve Jobs of 18th-century cabinetry. Roentgen didn't just make tables; he made mechanical marvels.
One of her most famous pieces is the Apollo Desk. At first glance, it’s a massive, dignified neoclassical secretary. But Roentgen was a master of "mechanical furniture." With the turn of a single key, hidden springs would trigger. Drawers would pop out of nowhere. The writing surface would slide. It even had a built-in music box that played when the central cabinet opened.
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Catherine loved this stuff. It appealed to her Enlightenment-era obsession with logic and machinery. For her, a desk that could transform was a metaphor for a mind that could reshape an empire. She once wrote to a friend that she was "simply greedy" for these pieces.
That "Erotic" Furniture: Fact or Nazi Fiction?
Let’s address the elephant in the room. If you Google Catherine the Great furniture, you’re going to find grainy photos of chairs with... let's say, very explicit carvings.
Here is the reality: There is no definitive proof she owned them.
The legend of the "Erotic Cabinet" at Gatchina Palace mostly stems from photos allegedly taken by Wehrmacht soldiers during World War II. Some historians argue the furniture was real but belonged to later, more eccentric nobles. Others think the photos were staged as propaganda to make the Russian monarchy look "degenerate."
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While Catherine definitely had 22 known lovers and a healthy appetite for life, the idea of a whole room dedicated to phallic-shaped chair legs is likely more myth than history. It's the kind of "history" that's too good to check, but as an expert, I’ve gotta tell you—the evidence is shaky at best.
The Tula Steel Room: Diamonds That Aren't Diamonds
If the erotic stuff is probably fake, the Tula Steel furniture is very real and much more insane.
Catherine patronized the gunsmiths in the city of Tula. These guys were used to making rifles, but she had them make chairs, stools, and fireplaces. They used a technique called "steel diamonds." They would facet thousands of tiny steel drops and polish them until they sparkled exactly like real gems.
- The Look: It wasn't warm or cozy. It was cold, blue-grey, and blindingly bright under candlelight.
- The Vibe: It was a flex. Who else has a fireplace made of polished weaponry?
- The Location: You can still see many of these pieces at Pavlovsk Palace today.
She loved the way the light hit these faceted beads. It turned her rooms into shimmering, metallic halls that felt more like a jewel box than a home.
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Moving Away from the "Frou-Frou"
Early in her reign, Catherine inherited the Rococo taste of her predecessor, Empress Elizabeth. Think gold leaf, curvy legs, and lots of "frou-frou." Catherine grew to hate it. She called it "crude" and "childish."
She pivots. Hard.
She brings in architects like Charles Cameron and Giacomo Quarenghi to usher in Neoclassicism. She wanted straight lines. She wanted Greek columns. She wanted furniture that looked like it belonged in a Roman temple. This wasn't just a style choice; it was a political statement. She was saying, "Russia is the new Rome."
Why This Stuff Still Matters
You might think 250-year-old chairs are boring, but Catherine the Great furniture changed how the world saw Russia. She used these objects to bridge the gap between Moscow and Paris.
If you want to incorporate a bit of this "Imperial Grandeur" into your own life without spending millions at a Sotheby’s auction, look for Neoclassical or Louis XVI style pieces. Focus on symmetry. Look for mahogany woods and brass or "ormolu" (gilt bronze) accents.
Actionable Steps for History & Decor Fans:
- Visit the Hermitage virtually: Their online archives have high-res photos of the Roentgen collection. Look for the "Apollo Desk"—it’s the peak of her collection.
- Study "Tula Work": If you like industrial design, Tula steel is the 18th-century ancestor. Look for modern "faceted" metal decor to get that shimmering effect.
- Read the Memoirs: If you want to know her real personality (not the furniture rumors), read "The Memoirs of Catherine the Great." She talks about her life in her own words, and it’s way more interesting than the myths.
Catherine’s furniture wasn't just for sitting. It was a stage for an Empress who knew exactly how to use beauty to cement her power. It's high-tech, high-glamour, and a little bit weird—just like the lady herself.