the year 1660 to the Tsar Alexis by a certain Ichto Modevlet, of
the Shah's court. M. Weltman, in his enumeration of the treasury of
the Kremlin, says: "It was therefore probably made in the workshops
of Ispahan about the same time that the globe, sceptre, and _barmi_
were ordered from Constantinople."

[Illustration: THE KREMLIN, MOSCOW.]

The Kremlin contains a large number of pieces of decorative plate
of all kinds made for the service of the table of the Tsars, or
displayed on buffets on state occasions. Much of it is the production
of other countries, presented by their ambassadors or purchased
for the Tsar. The frequent fires and the melting down of treasure
during the Polish disturbances have much diminished this collection,
and possibly also many of the finest pieces have disappeared. Of
the large service of gold plate of the Tsar Alexis, which consisted
of 120 covers, two plates are all that remain. These are, however,
sufficient evidence of the skill and taste of the Moscow goldsmiths
of the period and of their dexterity in the use of enamel.

The Treasury of the Kremlin contains a large number of cups or
vases of silver-gilt, for table use, of Russian work. There is
no great variety in the cups, but some forms are peculiar to the
country. There are especially the cups called _bratini_ (loving
cups, from _brat_, a brother), the bowls or ladles termed _kovsh_,
and the small cups with one flat handle for strong liquors. Tall
beakers expanding at the lip and contracted at the middle are also
favourite forms, but the bulbous shape is the most frequent. Indeed,
that form of bulb or cupola which we see upon the churches is peculiarly
characteristic. We find it with more or less resemblance, in the
ancient crowns, in the mitres of the popes, in the bowls of chalices
and in vases and bowls for drinking. In the _bratini_ and _kovsh_
the bulging form of ornament, the coving up of the bottoms of the
bowls, and the use of twisted lobes are very common.

The Cathedral of the Assumption is one of the many churches situated
within the precincts of the Kremlin. It was reconstructed by Fioraventi
in 1475 after the model of the Cathedral of Vladimir, and in spite
of the frequent calamities and fires which have half ruined Moscow
still preserves in a great measure its primitive character. The
church of the Assumption has five domes resting in the centre of
the building on four massive circular pillars, and the sanctuary
i