Exhibition "Antique Silver of the 18th–20th Centuries"

About exhibition

Silver, because of its ease of working and malleability, allows the creation of complex forms decorated using various techniques, corresponding to notions of genuine luxury. The exhibition presents household items of European aristocrats: rulers and kings, eminent nobility, high-ranking ambassadors and even the Portuguese dictator António de Oliveira Salazar. The core of the exhibition is Spanish silver from the 18th–20th centuries; alongside it are English, French, German, Italian and Portuguese services. 300 different silver exhibits, some inlaid and gilded. Priceless masterpieces of decorative and applied art captivate with their variety: bladed weapons, candlesticks, vases, wall panels, tea and coffee services, and exquisite flowers crafted from the precious metal. Russian silver pieces and Soviet silver cigarette cases are presented; Egyptian, Indian, Iranian, Japanese (extremely valuable) silver and even a Turkish samovar are included! It took the collector decades of painstaking work to bring together all these rarities, and now residents and visitors of Smolensk have the opportunity to enjoy the enchanting beauty of his priceless collection.