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Treasures of Ancient Russia from the Russian Museum Collection

Supported by:
  • Severstal
  • Nordgold International gold-mining company
Ornamented pendants. Second half of XIth century. From the Kiev treasure of 1887.
16 December 2015—16 May 2016
The exhibition presents unique jewelry of gold and silver dated to the XIth-XIIIth centuries and from most rich treasures that were hidden mostly in 1237-1240, in the period when Mongol-Tatar armies attacked Russian towns. The exposition brings together over 400 works that present different techniques and styles of the Pre-Mongolian jewelry craft. The Russian Museum collection treasures is one of the richest in the world and includes many masterpieces. The most significant of them are the objects made of gold with cloissoné enamel, of silver with niello and engraving, and also adornments decorated with tiniest granulating: precious ceremonial attires of the princes (knyaz) and members of their families, boyars and warriors from Kiev, Chernigov and Old Ryazan. The most prominent are the adornments from Kiev treasures: pendants ornamented with depictions of the Sirin bird and the "ryasny" chains (the best examples of this kind ever found in Russia) and also a golden diadem with the depiction of Deisis that was used as a bridal crown. In the silver jewelry treasures the true masterpieces are the wide folding bracelets with depiction of animals and birds and the scenes of the pagan folk festivities - "rousalii". All these exhibits provide an opportunity to know the artistic tastes of the townsfolk and also the jewelers' skill and show the richness of jewelry adornments of people in the Ancient Rus.

The special section of exhibition shows the tools of jewelers that executed the adornments. The exposition also includes the tribal jewelry attires of Russia, Byzantium, Volga Bulgaria and Scandinavia to let see the originality of the Old Russian goldwork that is presented by the embellishments from the hidden treasures.

The exhibition is supported by Severstal and Nordgold International gold-mining company

"Ryasny" chains. Second half of XIth century. From the Kiev treasure of 1887. Archangel Gabriel. Diadem from the Kiev treasure of 1889. Second half of XIIth century. Detail. "Ryasny" chains. Second half of XI th century. From the Kiev treasure of 1887 . Bird. Bracelet from the Kiev treasure of 1893. Second half of XII th century. Detail. Bracelet from the Tver treasure of 1906. Second half of XIIth century. Bracelet from the Terekhovsky treasure of 1876. Second half of XIIth century. Pot of the Kiev treasure of 1893. Second half of XIth century. Ornamented radial pendant. Second half of XIIth century. From theTerekhovsky treasure of 1876.

Exhibitions
Drawings and Watercolours by the Wanderers

Drawings and Watercolours by the Wanderers

21 March—8 July 2024

The exhibition presents graphic works created by the founders of the Society of Travelling Art Exhibitions, as well as by artists of the younger generation. Graphic works by the Wanderers supplement the idea of the work of artists whose paintings became significant events in social life.

The Coronation Album of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. 1744

The Coronation Album of Empress Elizabeth Petrovna. 1744

3 January—1 April 2024

The tradition of creating coronation albums – publications with detailed illustrated descriptions of the coronation ceremony and other ceremonial events accompanying it – appeared in Russia in the 18th century. The current exhibition features three albums from the collection of the Russian Museum.

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Virtual tour of the museum complex. 2009 (Rus., Eng., Ger., Fin.)

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