Dmitri Dmitriyevich was very lax about inviting guests and did not tell his family until the last minute. “He would say, so-and-so is coming today…,” recalls Irina Antonovna Shostakovich. “He liked simple food, such as ravioli.”
Two paired girandole candelabra for two candles. Decorated with diamond cut clear glass pendants. Brass, crystal, marble. Europe. Mid-19th century.
The girandoli stood in the Leningrad apartment of the Shostakovich family; they were transported to Moscow in 1944-1947.
Since 1962, in the composer's apartment on Nezhdanova Street, they were in the bedroom.
A longcase clock with chimes. England, first half of the 19th century. Mahogany - body, glass, metal.
Silver dining set. A samovar with a teapot on a tray with the engraving “Dear Dmitri Dmitriyevich! Drink to your heart’s content. Group of comrades. 25. IX. 1956”. A gift from colleagues on Dmitri Shostakovich’s 50th birthday in 1956.
Russian Empire. Warsaw, early 20th century.
Two-leaved cabinet in the dining-room, opposite the sideboard. It has glass doors and stands on round wooden legs.
The cabinet holds everyday pieces of china and items which Dmitri Shostakovich received as presents or were purchased by him and his wife, Irina Shostakovich.
Incidentally, Dmitri Dmitriyevich himself was not fond of visiting other people and spending a lot of time there. “We’ve drunk and eaten, now it’s time to go home,” he would say, heading for the door. Shostakovich preferred bright lighting in his home (he could not stand to have burned-out bulbs in his lamps). This explains the large chandeliers, abundance of ceiling and table lamps, candlesticks and candelabrums in his home.