West European silver
18th-19th centuries. Display case. Ambassadorial gifts from Poland. 17th century.
The objects displayed in this case were brought to Russia as gifts from the Polish kings on the occasion of the ascension of a Russian tsar to the throne or a royal wedding, or in connection with diplomatic negotiations.
A significant place among these gifts is occupied by the marvelous creations of Gdansk's masters, as well as those of Breslau, Cracow. Poznan, Torun, and Fraustadt.
In 1647, an ambassadorial mission arrived in Moscow to announce that John Casimir was the new king of Poland. Among the gifts brought by the mission were goblets and platters of German make. One of these platters (in the center of the display case) was executed in Augsburg. The multi-figured scene in the middle of the massive oval platter represents the battle of the Poles and the Swedes.
The intricate relief designs of these chased and gilded silver objects testifies to the consummate skill of the gold- and silversmiths of the time.
