he basic part of the display "Old Russian Applied and Decorative Art of the 14th - 17th cc" comprises embroideries in silk and pearls, works of jewelry art and small-size sculptures from the Sacristy of the Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery. There are donations of Moscow Grand Princes, Tsars, boyars and noblemen. The display presents over 400 outstanding works.

Reliquary. 1410 - 1429

One can see here pectoral icons of the 13th - 14th cc. - rare samples of the period of Tartar and Mongol invasion, and the unique 12th century serpentine amulet cast in brass. These icons are closely connected with pagan amulets in there symbolism. The rich collection of jewelry art and icon embroidery of the 15th - 17th cc. shows the development of these branches of applied art in the course of several centuries.

Old Russian Applied and Decorative Art. Late 14th - early 15th cc.

Among the ancient embroideries are the Pall "St. Sergius of Radonezh" dating back to the 15th century which is the earliest representation of the founder of the Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery, two icon-cloths for "The Old Testament Trinity" painted by Andrei Rublev. One of them was donated in 1499 by Grand Princess of Moscow Sophia Paleologos, the wife of Grand Prince Ivan III, the other was presented by Ivan the Terrible's father Vasily III. Embroidery in silk, silver and golden thread of the 16th century is represented by the Palls depicting SS. Sergius and Nikon of Radonezh, produced by the Tsar workshop, unique shroud embroidered in the workshop of Euphrosyne Staritskaya, Ivan the Terrible's aunt and other specimens. Ornamental embroidery is represented by purificators, church vestments and head-dresses. "The Pearl Icon-Cloth" for Andrei Rublev's "Old Testament Trinity", presented by Tsar Boris Godunov, is a unique sample of this art. It is embroidered in pearls and golden thread and decorated with numerous figured gold plaques with images of saints in niello and engraved patterns.

Panagia. 15th - 16th century.

Each period of jewelry art development is represented by first-rate works connected with well-known personalities. Among them one can see the silver censer made by the Trinity silversmiths in 1408 for the Monastery Father Superior Nikon of Radonezh, gold and marble chalice decorated with a fine filigree pattern made by the Moscow goldsmith Ivan Fomin and presented by Moscow Prince Vasily the Blind to the Trinity Monastery in 1449, and works of the Trinity monk-craftsman Ambrose.

Sacristy. Old Russian Art of the late 16th - early 17th century.

Among precious icon decorations of the 15th - 16th century are the gold mountings for "The Old Testament Trinity" embellished with sapphires, emeralds, rubies, pearls. They were donated by Ivan the Terrible and Boris Godunov. The gold chased mounting for the icon "St. Sergius of Radonezh" was presented by Tsar Feodor Ioannovich.

Mugs. 17th century. Silver, engraving.

The collection of Old Russian applied and decorative art is a real treasury.