SHOWCASE 53. CEREMONIAL HORSE HARNESS OF TURKISH WORK OF THE 18TH CENTURY

Masterpieces represented in this showcase remind us the events of the Russo-Turkish War of 1768-1774, such as victories of the outstanding commander Peter Rumyantsev in the Battles of Larga and Kagula; the battle of Balaclava and the siege of Perekop under the command of general Vassily Dolgorukov; the naval battle of Chesma, in which the Russian squadron of Count Orlov totally destroyed the Turkish navy; and capture of Silistra and Kozludzha fortresses under the command of Alexander Suvorov.

The Treaty of Kuchuk-Kainarji concluded in 1774 signified the recognition of Russia’s victory and a considerable change in centuries-old Turkish domination. Russia gained access to the Black Sea shores and the right of free passage through the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits.

The new position of Russia, provided in the peace treaty, influenced the behaviour of Sultan Abdul Hamid I and his government. The delegated ambassador Abdul Kerim I, Pascha Beylerbey of Rumelia, was sent to Russia to greet the victorious Russian Empress Catherine the Great on behalf of the sultan and to give her many beautiful and valuable gifts from the sultan’s treasury. There were saddles, horsecloths, horse harness and adornment, arms—flanged maces and sables, as well as carpets, fabric, incense and seven thoroughbred horses. The 66-articles list of gifts is preserved in the Topkapi Palace Museum in Istanbul and in the Archive of Russia’s Foreign Policy. The most precious and valuable gifts were sent to the Armoury Chamber in Moscow in 1775.

The first position in the list was a gold plume, studded with diamonds—a horseman’s headdress decoration.

There were also ancient masterpieces among the gifts to the Russian Empress. For example, a silver bucket was executed in court workshops of the Turkish sultan in the first third of the 17th century, a century and a half before it became a present.