SHOWCASE 1

The showcase presents tableware made of various materials: wood, ceramics and so-called simple metals such as copper and tin, made by Russian and Western European masters. All these products were used by wealthy citizens of the 17th century in their everyday life. In the 17th century, copper was mined in Solikamsk and partly imported from Western Europe. Tin was imported entirely, so its products were very expensive and were mostly available to wealthy people. It was a short period of flourishing, the era of "noble tin" when tin products were considered as part of the glamorous decoration of the table and interior. Tin dishes were decorated with various patterns, inscriptions, relief casting. Openwork technique was widely used. Masters created openwork strips of excellent design, which decorated cabinets, mica lanterns, mirror frames, and chests.

Besides pewter, copper products were widely used either - they were brought from abroad and made in Moscow in the Copper Row. Copper tableware was used in the household of various social groups, including the Royal and Patriarch's Palaces. Almost all its samples are presented in the showcase, that is plates and dishes, bowls and drinking vessels (charka), loving-cups (bratina), jugs and mortar boxes (stupa).

However, wood and ceramics were still the most popular materials for making dinnerware, and their products were the most common.

In the 17th century, there was a breakthrough in the evaluation of the elements of other peoples’ everyday life. There appear new things. Thus, a full set of cutlery is served during dinner, namely a spoon, a fork, a knife, however, at first only to the most honoured guests, while persons of lower classes were provided with a spoon and rarely with a knife or fork. In Europe, the fork was widely used since the 16th century.

In the merchants' rows of Kitay-Gorod in Moscow, one could find almost all kinds of goods that were in circulation in the markets of Western European and Eastern cities. They could be found in a boyar's house, and the property of tradespeople, and a house of a wealthy peasant. The items of that time are presented in this showcase.