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This virtual exhibition presents a very minor part of the collection of Russian gold and silver pieces made in the form of different animals. The majority of them come from the Silver Stockrooms of the Winter Palace and the mansions of the St Petersburg nobility.
The tradition of producing domestic items in the shape of various living creatures goes back deep into antiquity. Back in the Ancient World craftsmen produced ritual wine vessels in the form of naturalistic heads of bulls or goats. When someone initiated into the mysterious ceremony drank from such a vessel, he was supposed to acquire the best qualities of the particular animal, its strength, agility and endurance.
In the Middle Ages the gold- and silversmiths of Western Europe also created drinking vessels in the shape of different creatures. Proud cheetahs, powerful horses and majestic eagles adorned the banqueting tables of rulers and the titled aristocracy. In the early and mid-18th century Russian jewellers too began to produce silver drinking vessels in the form of animals. In contrast to Western Europe, however, these were not fantastic heraldic beasts, but rather realistic figures of amusing little creatures - crowing cockerels, owls with eyes round with astonishment, bears with barrels of honey in their paws.
Between the mid-19th century and the early 20th, gold- and silversmiths in both Europe and Russia returned to the tradition of making various articles of domestic use in the guise of various animals. They skilfully worked the surface of the silver, giving it the appearance of fur, lush plumage or fish scales. Figures of animals adorned candlesticks, the mounts of glass and porcelain vases, writing paraphernalia, toilet and desk sets.
From earliest times Easter was the most esteemed religious holiday. Specially for this holy day the finest craftsmen created not only large, expensive and showy Easter eggs, but also tiny trinkets in the shape of eggs. Many of them were produced in the form of animals traditionally associated with the celebration of the Resurrection - chicks, hares and squirrels. |
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 Whistle-trinket in the form of a bird View 3-D image |
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Copyright © 2011 State Hermitage Museum |
