Russian arms and armor
12th-19th centuries. Display case.
Russian arms and armor of the 12th to 19th centuries included cone-shaped helmets, armor (typical coats of mail, bakhtertsy in which metal plates were woven into the chain mail, and yushmany in which plates of armor, generally attached with rivets, were worn over the chain mail), sabers, swords, and fire-arms. All are distinguished by lavish ornamentation and superior battle-effectiveness. In the 16th and 17th centuries, firearms came into wide use. Subsequently, the significance of armor and sidearms diminished to that of purely ceremonial accessories symbolizing military might. Many of the objects on display are associated with major historical events or famous state and military figures.
In the 17th century, the center of arms production in Russia was the Armory Chamber where the most talented gunsmiths of the country flourished. The most remarkable jack-of-all-trades at the Armory Chamber in its heyday was Nikita Davydov, who worked there for over fifty years. He created the remarkable damask steel helmet for Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich known as the Hat of Jericho, the coat of mail with a striking burnished breastplate, and also the carbine, and pistol featured here (left).
Also on display in the hall are objects of infinite historical value: the ancient helmet (late 12th-early 13th century) of Yaroslav Vsevolodovich, the bear-spear (15th century) of Tver Prince Boris Alexandrovich, the coat of mail (16th century) of Prince Pyotr Shuisky, 17th-century armor made by Dmitri Konovalov and Grigory Vyatkin, the sabers of Russian national heroes Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky, trophies from the Battle of Poltava, hunting arms and pistols, and ceremonial swords and sabers made by the masters of Tula, Olonets, St. Petersburg, and Zlatoust.
