HALL 1. RUSSIAN GOLD- AND SILVERWARE OF THE 12TH - EARLY 17TH CENTURY

On display is the most ancient collection of the museum. During many centuries these valuables have been the basic part of the collection of grand princes’ and Tsar’s Treasure House. Documents dating back to the 14th century mention some pieces as symbols of the power of the grand princes and the Russian State. The unique works of applied and decorative art of the 12th-13th centuries’ Byzantium show a strong influence on the development of Old Russian art. The artefacts of that time testify high-level craftsmanship of Pre-Mongolian Rus’. The items exhibited in the first two halls on the first floor are mostly gold- and silverware by Moscow Kremlin masters. But there are also specimens of jewellery from other famous Russian cities, such as Kiev, Chernigov, Ryazan, Suzdal, Novgorod, Yaroslavl, Kostroma, as well as works of Byzantine, South Slavic and Georgian masters. In one of the showcases, you could see the covers of the shrines of St Cyril of Beloozero and Tsarevitch Dmitry.