I have been absolutely mesmerised by the extremely rich and rather exquisite artistic works pertaining to a collection of gifts to the Czars from the Safavid period Iran and Ottoman Turkey, most of which dating back to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, now being exhibited at Calouste Gulbenkian Museum until the 18th of May, in what is said to be its first exhibition in Europe.
Most of the very refined objects in display were used in the Czar's ceremonial acts, thus displaying very intricate forging, carving, engraving, gilding, gold damascening, silk threading and precious stone encrustation.
What mostly surprised me was the wide variety of richly decorated horse saddles and other horse harnesses accounting for the importance of the military campaigns in the life of the Russian court despite being associated with official ceremonies.
The photographing of the sixty six artistic works was not allowed, which was a pity, once it will be difficult to retain all of those images in one's mind and the small exhibition catalogue doesn't display but a few.
16th century Icon of the Mother of God (Gold, silver, pearls, precious stones and wood) - Novodevichy Convent, Moscow.
Istanbul - First third 17th century Bowl (jade, gold, emeralds, rubies, sapphires) - a gift from Yuriy Panagiot to Czar Mikhail Fedorovich in 1632.
17th century Ceremonial Mace (wood, gold, emeralds, rubies, garnets, enamel carving and chasing) - Istanbul.
It is definitely worth being visited not only because of the displayed richness but equally for its uniqueness.
It is definitely worth being visited not only because of the displayed richness but equally for its uniqueness.
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