State shield the state shield depicted belongs to the rank of the tsar and is carried out at ceremonial investitures. It is leather, covered with scarlet velvet. In the middle or at the top of the shield is a round crystal cloak in gold, with sixteen sapphires embedded in gold sockets. Around the middle cloak are six similar cloaks (two of them green crystal), but with slits on the sides, for inserting sockets with precious stones, which, however, are missing. These cloaks are furnished with fourteen gold sockets containing emeralds, sapphires and turquoises, and eight jasper braids, framed in gold, each containing three sapphires. They are followed by a row consisting of twelve round jasper cloaks with slits and gold lining and twelve braids, with sapphires and turquoises embedded in gold sockets. After this row there follows a row of smaller jasper cloaks, also decorated with gold notching and sapphires, and between them twelve gold sockets with three sapphires and nine turquoises. Along the edge of the shield there are six jasper plaques with sapphires and gold notching, six round jasper cloaks similar to those mentioned above, and twelve gold sockets with sapphires and turquoise. The diameter of the shield is 13 1/2 vershoks. Date: before 1853.
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