Prince Vladimir of Serpukhov and Boyars Veliaminov. Retinue of Great Prince Dmitry Donskoy

Encolpion
Rus, Moscow, last quarter of the 14th – first quarter of the 15th century
Non-precious metal; casting
Vessel (fragments)
Rus, Tver, last quarter of the 15th – early 16th century
Clay, glaze; clay molding, stamp, glazing, firing
Shoes from men’s burial
Rus, Moscow (?), 15th–16th
Leather; cutting, sewing
Coin – pulo
Rus (?), late 14th – first quarter of the 15th century
Non-precious metal; chasing
Chess figure
Rus, Moscow, 15th century
Horn; turning
Stamp
Belgium, Tournai, mid-14th – mid 15th century
Non-precious metal; casting, pressing
Roof shingle
Rus, Moscow, mid-14th – second half of the 15th century
Wood; dressing
Pouch
Rus, Moscow, last quarter of the 14th – first quarter of the 15th century
Leather; cutting, embossing, sewing
Armour plates
Rus, Moscow, late 14th – first quarter of the 15th century
Iron; forging
Iron crampon
Rus, Moscow, late 14th – first quarter of the 15th century
Iron; forging
Plaque
Rus, Moscow, late 14th – first quarter of the 15th century
Iron; forging
Chain mail (fragments)
Rus, Moscow, late 14th – first quarter of the 15th century
Iron; drawing, riveting, inlay
Arrowhead
Rus, Moscow, late 14th – first quarter of the 15th century
Iron; forging

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12 August 2024 – 15 December 2024

State Museum of Military History and Nature Reserve "Kulikovo Field"

Participants:

The Moscow Kremlin Museums, State Museum of Military History and Nature Reserve "Kulikovo Field"

Participants:

The Moscow Kremlin Museums

The Moscow Kremlin Museums present an exhibition project dedicated to the times of the Battle of Kulikovo at the State Museum of Military History and Nature Reserve "Kulikovo Field". On display are unique pieces of the 14th and 15th centuries belonging to Moscow’s material culture.

The exhibition consists of more than 140 items found during archaeological works in the Taynitsky Garden and the Great Kremlin Square in the Moscow Kremlin in 2020-2021. Here, near the Constantine and Helen Tower (former name - "Timofeevskaya"), in the 14th century there was the court of Boyar Timofey Vasilevich Veliaminov, Moscow okolnichy, member of the inner circle of Grand Prince Dmitry Donskoy, even mentioned in his testament in 1389.

The exposition showcases the most interesting artefacts, such as a rod-shaped iron scribe with relief decoration, close in form and ornamentation to Western European samples. Similar occasional findings have previously been discovered in Novgorod, but this is the first of a kind to be unearthed in Moscow. Metal plaques with relief images of dragons and gold inlays stand out among the other pieces on display.

One part of the exhibition focuses on military armour: details of plate armour, arrowheads and rings of chain mail demonstrate the wealth and status of their owners.

A special place in the exposition is occupied by a complex of monastic attributes, including the exceptional examples of the 15th-century vestments, such as a paraman, burial leather shoes and an embossed belt with the images of the Twelve Great Feasts.

The everyday life of Moscow's boyar families is illustrated by fragments of slip-glazed fritware with elegant double-sided underglaze painting in blue and green – such vessels were brought from the Golden Horde in the 14th century. Particularly unusual is the glazed light clay bowl with a unique embossed ornament featuring bearded masks and animal images– analogues of this earthenware are found only in the Tver area.

The exposition is richly stored with knives, locks, keys, woodwork (bowls, spoons and scutches – a tool for rubbing flax fibre). Among them, a beautifully preserved embossed leather purse, which served its rich and noble owner both as a functional object, and as proof of his influential position in society, attracts attention. A wooden shingle is an important testimony to the peculiarities of house building at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. A fine hairpin and rings complete the picture of everyday life in Rus at that time.