Catherine the Great started her collection in 1764 to decorate the Winter Palace. The treasures are now housed in The Hermitage museum in Leningrad. This book presents a selection of these treasures, including jewellery, such as a gold, diamond and sapphire snuff box, diamond watches, chalices, table services, armour, tapestries, dresses and portraits of her and her courtiers. The publication of this book is designed to coincide with an exhibition of the treasures in Memphis, Tennessee, in April 1991.