音频游览 «Russian olden times»

This room presents art masterpieces and wonderful items which used to surround our forefathers in the household even two centuries ago. They created a unique background for the epoch.  There are articles of Russian glass and porcelain that used to be popular through the whole Europe, golden and beads embroidery. The traditions of its manufacturing are rooted in further historical epochs. Here you can also see cast-iron patterns of famous Kasling casting. 

The armchair made in the Russian Empire style of 18th – beginning of 19th century is marked by its splendor.  Pay your attention to peculiarities characterizing this style – front abutments like swans whose wings serve as arm pads, and lion’s paws as its legs. Golden trimming is in harmony with gold plating of the carving. As a rule, such furniture was made in sets.

This hall also displays several icons from the museum collection: there are old temple icons of the seventeenth century above the floor aperture, and opposite to it there is one of the most interesting icons from artistic point of view dated as of the eighteenth century – The Mother of God “Assuage my sufferings” in casing embroidered with fresh water pearls.

Leaving the hall you can hear the chime of famous Valdai bells from the first half of the 19th century. This had been a kind of signaling device which was used only in the team of the post and courier horses. Their ringing made everybody step back and give way to so-called Troika or three horses in the city or postal route. The main Russian post route from Moscow to St. Petersburg was via Valdai where such bells were mostly made.