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Unlike the previous two sections of the display featuring
items of high international standing, the Jewellery Art of the East and South America
remained all but unknown to general public
in the past decades with only a few pieces having ever
entered major exhibitions. One can hardly overestimate the
quality and span of the Oriental Jewellery collection, which
covers Central Asia and the Caucasus, India and Iran,
Turkey and Egypt, Byzantium, Mongolia, China, and South
America.
Among the centerpieces of the present display are
wonderful ornaments, incense burners, jeweled bowls and
trays created by Indian jewelers of the 16th-17th centuries
and presented to the Russian Emperor by Shah Nadir, the
conqueror of India, in the 18th century.
Russia's most comprehensive collection of Chinese jewellery
dating from the 17th-18th centuries features filigree
ornaments, vessels and toilet sets of fine gold and silver
wire.
The Pre-Columbian Jewellery of South America combining
realistic images with cult symbols and mythical beasts
enjoys its first showing ever at the Hermitage museum. Of
particular interest is the Mexican Bell - a golden pectoral
shaped as the Eagle-Warrior.
The lavishly decorated ceremonial arms come from the
famous Arsenal founded by Nicholas I and formerly
stationed at Tsarskoye Selo. The Oriental section of the
Emperor's collection used to be second to none in Europe
back in the 19th century.
Exquisite shapes and stunning combinations of material and
color, the mystifying glow of precious metals and Damascus
steel, agility and vigor of the 'animal style' and realistic
accuracy of other compositions, the infinite variety of
polished gemstones coming in every shape, size and color
- all this splendor and beauty come from the dreamworld
of the jewellery art, which now awaits visitors at the
Hermitage Golden Rooms.
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Jewellery
India, 16th-17th centuries
Full description
Dagger and Sheath
Iran, mid-18th century
Full description
Pectorial Decoration in the Form of Warrior-Eagle
Full description
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