Showcase 2. Russian gold and silverware of the XIIth toXVth centuries

Basically the represented items were created in times when Russia has been shattered into separate princedoms, severely oppressed by the overseas invasion. Only a few works of jeweller's art created both in this and earlier period could remain intact. The reasons were the enemy raids, devastating internecine strife of Princes, frequent fires. When the Tatar yoke became firmly established the Russian art suffered especially great losses. It caused many of the thorough mastery's techniques to be lost. Nevertheless some extant works of art testify a great skill of jewelers in Ancient Russia.

For the Art of Ancient Russia the art culture of Byzantium is especially important and value. At the same time the Russian makers were able to preserve national originality in their creative work. Works of art of this time are remarkable for its both magnificent and plain, laconic design.

In this period, when Muscovy was getting centralized, the princedoms of Vladimir-Suzdal, Chernigov and Ryazan were renowned for the art traditions; and that princedoms became the "purveyor" of painters and makers to the capital Moscow.