Gold. Metal of Gods and King of metals

27.01.2012-31.12.2012
The exhibition presents objects kept in the State Historical Museum which are outstanding
historic and cultural monuments of the last two millennia, made of gold or decorated with it. The
first part of the exhibition introduces the “metal of Gods". There are objects of Orthodox divine
service: icons and books in gold mountings, various church utensils, mithers and marriage
crowns richly decorated with precious stones, - as well as unique masterpieces of the 11th -19th
centuries presented other Christian confessions: Catholic chalices, crosses and panagiae of
Armenian, Georgian and Greek Churches. Household articles and synagogue objects will tell
you about Judaism, gilded cases for Koran’s handwritten surahs - about Islam, Tibetan
pantheon’s deities– about Buddhism, a unique collection of Chinese gold amulets – about
Chinese religious faiths. The second part of the exhibition presents the "metal of tsars as a
symbol of power" connected with the events of Russian and world history and with outstanding
historical persons. The hall greets you with a showcase where are displayed unique gold in
nuggets and weight standards (various–shaped balance weights of gold) kept in a special
treasure-store of the Precious Metals Department of the Museum. A special category of exhibits
is formed of gold commemorative coins, unique enamel portraits of Peter I and his heirs created
on the gold support, arms made of precious metals, orders decorated with miniatures of Peter I,
Empresses Catherine I and Elizabeth Petrovna. The attention is attracted by bestowed gold rings
and snuffboxes, as well as by precious fragile things - goblets of glass with elegant gilt
ornaments and with an image of Russian State Coat of Arms. The "regiment silverware": vessels,
cups, vases connected with the history of the oldest regiments of Russian army, - is presented for
the first time. The third part of the exhibition demonstrates the gold as a symbol of riches and
luxury: high-art antique, Western Europe, Eastern and Russian examples of dishes and table
decoration, jewelry, clocks and watches, snuffboxes, cigar cases, seals enchased in gold, unique
tea-service for travel dated to the mid-19th century that belonged to a member of imperial
family. In the showcases, along with masterpieces of European baroque, rococo, classicism,
empire and art nouveau there are works made by Russian jewelers of the 17th -18th centuries, as
well as articles executed in jewelry firms of Sazikov, Khlebnikov, Ovchinnikov, Fabergé. A
special partition of the exhibition is related to the display of gold ware of the 20th century.
Primarily, there are splendid works having an inimitable image of the socialist epoch, which was
characterized, on the one hand, by formally promoted austerity of the life, and, on the other hand,
gave samples of luxurious jewelry of gold and gems, as well as items reflected the life of
statesmen of the Soviet period, from Stalin to Gorbachev. In the same room, there are exhibited
the samples of bronze done by the best craftsmen and companies of Russia and Europe, as well
as a unique jewelry, from the antique gold jewelry of the 1st century C.E. to the gold ware and
diamonds of the 20th century.
"Gold. Metal of Gods and King of metals". From the State Historical Museum’s collection.
Publication timed to the exhibition. Moscow., 2007, 71 pp.., coloured illustrationsКонец формы