A Gentleman in Moscow has hit our small screens, and we couldn’t be happier about it! Based on the novel by Amor Towles, the series recounts the life of Count Alexander Rostov, a Russian aristocrat forced to live out his years under house-arrest at the Hotel Metropol in Moscow.

Over the course of the Bolshevik Revolution, Alexander, played by Ewan McGregor, gets to know the ins and outs of the hotel, spending his later years working in the Boyarski Restaurant. As we too discover more of the hotel, a number of our lights can be spotted around various rooms, kitchens, and exterior locations.

Our white enamel Hungarian piggery lights, seen in the kitchen and part of the servants’ quarters, emulate the chef hats and white linens that they illuminate; these small details maintain the hotel’s facade of luxury and affluence during a time of political turmoil. However, the more industrial design contrasts the elegant crystal and opaline lighting that adorns the main reception of the hotel. Similarly, in another area of the kitchen, our salvaged Eastern Bloc lights can be spotted, providing a striking downlighting, pulling the focus to the line of employees below, whilst the brown shades tie together the wooden features of the set.

Whilst Marina tailors Rostov’s suit, our 1930s MEK ELEK work light illuminates her workbench. The original patina complements the sewing and tailoring tools below, tying together the set decor with authentic vintage lighting. Our Czech pendant lights sit in the boiler room below the hotel, their industrial design accompanying the steelworks and pipes that make part of the basement.

Beyond the confines of the hotel, our lights can be found in the hospital. Two of our Hungarian wall lights illuminate the entrance, their angled shades and swan necks lighting the worn down signs, indicating the state of the inside yet to be seen. Our German factory lights are dotted around the reception area, their black industrial shades blending into the dark and grim interior. Out the back of the hospital, our Eastern Bloc bulkhead makes part of the loading bay set, it’s oxidised appearance giving a rusty, rundown feel. Most notably, a trio of our floor lights can be seen in the operating room, their pre-1930s medical histories making them the perfect addition to this set. 

The glimpses of areas outside the hotel reveal the reality of the post-revolution USSR, stripped of the luxury that the hotel boasts. The lights hired for these areas all reflect this industrial design discipline. Outside the hotel, our XL Ceramics factory lights provide the perfect strong downlighting to illuminate Mishka’s dramatic arrival and exit from the hotel. Their grey steel enclosures mark the change from the rich hotel interiors. Our Eastern Bloc factory pendants light up the dark train station, as their industrial look similarly pulls together the style elements of the industrial station.

The wonderful team that worked to create the sets on A Gentleman in Moscow did a fantastic job in recreating the renowned hotel, whilst capturing the histories and realities of the Bolshevik revolution. If you’re looking to bring histories and stories to life with authentic vintage lighting, get in touch with the prop hire team at prophire@skinflintdesign.com! 

Warning... the following photos contain spoilers, you've been warned! 

Distributor: Paramount+