NAVIGATION

The Tula arms factory was founded in 1712 as Russia’s protracted war with Sweden caused the transference to Tula of the experienced master craftsmen from the Moscow armoury. The factory continued to fulfil state orders for arms, but gradually they became employed in the manufacture of luxury goods. Catherine the Great frequently gave gifts of Tula work to foreign representatives and diplomats praising the combination of blued steel with gold and gilt metal. As they were mainly intended for the Palaces of European royalty these articles were extraordinarily expensive.