CEREMONIAL TEXTILE IN XVII CENTURY: PEARL WORKS OF THE MOSCOW KREMLIN WORKSHOPS

Abstract

The article introduces the results of a study dedicated to the most spectacular textile in the royal household in the XVII century Russia – the heyday of Russian pearl works. This is the context for the study of the Moscow Kremlin pearl works kept in those days in the Royal Treasury and the Sacristy. Today these masterpieces are in the collection of the Armory Chamber. The analysis involves ceremonial wraps and various pearl covers. The research refines the series of secular and cult-ritual ceremonial textile of the XVII century, which was adorned with the pearl threading technique. The author identifies a range of such items located in the national museum collections. Much attention is paid to the specifics of ancient Russian pearl work. The emphasis is on one of the most valuable items made in this technique. It is the so-called «Blanket with Kingdoms» from the Royal Stables Treasury; the item was made at the beginning of the second quarter of the XVII century. According to the results of the analysis, the textiles with pearl works can be regarded as a significant material source on the history of the ceremonial culture of the late Russian Middle Ages.

Keywords

• russian culture
• xvii century
• ceremonial
• textiles
• pearl
• moscow kremlin workshops