Relics from Sainte Chapelle of Paris, Japanese decorative art of the 18th - 20th centuries, and items associated with the Portuguese colonial empire will be displayed in the Moscow Kremlin Museums.
"It is planned to hold three exhibitions in the new season. These will present Gothic art masterpieces from Sainte Chapelle of Paris, Japanese arts and crafts of the 18th - 20th centuries, and historical objects from the Portuguese colonial empire," - the press service of the Moscow Kremlin Museums reports.
The exhibition on the history and culture of the Portuguese colonial empire of the 16th - 18th centuries has been held at the Kremlin Museum since December 8, 2016. Over 200 exhibits from the Russian and Portuguese collections introduce visitors to the magnificence of the Portuguese court, the traditions of Portuguese navigation, science and culture, as well as Portugal's mutual influence and cultural exchange with its colonies in India, China, Japan, Africa and Brazil. Among the artefacts there are portraits and personal belongings of Portugese rulers, commanders, and navigators, jewelry, coins, liturgical items, weapons and armor, engravings, maps, navigational instruments, manuscripts and books. A special place in the exposition belongs to the works created in various parts of the colonial empire under the influence of the Portuguese and European culture.
The exhibition St. Louis, and the Relics of Sainte Chapelle opens on March 3, 2017. The joint project of the Kremlin Museums and the French National Monuments Center will introduce public in Moscow to French Gothic art of the 13th century, which marked its heyday. Artifacts from Sainte Chapelle, Louvre, the Cluny Museum and other collections will be exhibited in Moscow.
One of the highlights will be the Reliquary of the Crown of Thorns, created for the Savior's crown of thorns  in 1806 and acquired by St. Louis IX (1214 - 1270) from the emperor of Latin Empire, Baldwin II in 1239. Nowadays it is kept in the Notre Dame Cathedral.
A special place in the exposition at the Patriarchal Palace will be taken by the 13th century Sainte Chapelle's fragments of stained glass windows, partially dismantled in the 19th century and stored in the National Monuments Centre. It is for the first time that they will leave France in such a big group.
In addition, the exhibition will present a statue of St. Louis, and that of the king's daughter Isabella, an icon of the Virgin and Child, Limoges enamels, Quadrifolium ark with an icon of St. Francis of Assisi, a crown-reliquary, which was donated by Louis to Dominican Convent in Liege, and a gem laden gospel for worships in the Holy Chapel.

July of 2017 will see the first ever exhibition of Japanese arts and crafts of the late 18th-early 20th century at the Kremlin Museum. The exhibits are provided from the private collection of the famous British scientist, Professor Nasser David Halili. Visitors will see numerous varieties of Japanese Kimono of the Edo and Meiji periods, as well as specimen of silk embroidery, metal art, porcelain and enamel items, handicrafted by official supplier of the Japanese emperor court. It should be noted that many of the 90 exhibits have never been displayed to the general public before.