Pskov is not only beautiful for its magnificent kremlin and its scattering of ancient churches, recently added to UNESCO's World Heritage List, but also for its very attractive 17th-century stone civic buildings, one of which is Postnikov's Courtyard. The complex of buildings now belongs to the Pskov Museum-Reserve. It underwent extensive restoration and in spring 2020 spacious exhibition areas were opened. In several halls right now the exhibition "Mirror of the Pskov Stove" is on display.
Facade of an old stone building
Of course, we all know the important role of the stove in Old Rus'. It was the kitchen, the banya (bathhouse), the home's heater, a guardian of health, and a mystical object. Therefore it was important not only to build the stove correctly but also to decorate it as much as possible. In wealthy merchant Pskov, stove tiles were of course used. The exhibition tells the story of this decorative element.
Here both unique items recovered by archaeologists and skillfully made reconstructions are gathered. Moreover, all of this is presented in convenient display cases and supplemented by many informational panels. In my opinion, this is exactly how a modern exhibition should look.
Information panel
Archaeological finds
Displays that harmoniously blend into the historic chambers
It came as a surprise to me that stove tiles were not always decorative elements. Their first function was to increase the stove's heat-emitting surface area. But even then the jug-shaped ceramic facade elements were very beautiful.
Archaeological finds in the reconstruction of the stove
The very first stove tiles
Restored stove in Postnikov's House
However, the use of tiles to decorate churches is not found in all regions. And it is precisely in the Pskov region that the designs on these elements are mysterious and have not yet been deciphered. There are various hypotheses as to why inexplicable fantastic beasts appear on the decorative ceramic belts of Orthodox buildings.
Tiles that decorated the drums of the church in the town of Ostrov
Decorative tile
One interpretation of the image on the tile
In the end, the exhibition, which promised to be merely curious, turned out to reveal many interesting things. If you're in Pskov, don't pass by!
We continue our journey and will soon share information about exhibitions dedicated to the jubilee year of Pushkin.
