The exhibition at the country’s major historical museum is being held as part of events dedicated to the launch of an album devoted to the National History Museum of the Republic of Belarus. Museum staff prepared the edition, with financial support from Priorbank. Alexander Alexeev and Oleg Lukashevich have prepared photos and created illustrations.
Vytautas belt
Each of the museum’s 20 collections has its own unique history. The present exhibition unites over 2,000 articles, with only a selection of these shown in the album. Most are on display for the first time, including several old maps, which well demonstrate pages of our national history. Among them are Minsk Province with Ten Districts (1800), and the Map of the Emperor’s Travel to Belarusian Lands, in 1780.
Undoubtedly, new exhibition will arouse interest among visitors
Other rare documents from the early 19th century include a patent confirming a noble title, an epitaph, a certificate of a teacher’s seminary graduation, and Bons (money from the time of Tadeusz Kosciuszko’s rebellion and which circulated across Belarusian territory). Meanwhile, photo albums featuring the alumni of Minsk men’s and Mariinskaya women’s gymnasiums, from the early 20th century, reveal insight into Belarusian education.
On show also are a table mirror from the late 19th-early 20th century, made by K. Faberge, a Muslim funeral list, Russian head-bands dating from the late 18th-early 19th century, and a mandolin made by 19th century masters: all showcased for the first time. Those interested in numismatics will be pleased to see rare antique coins discovered in Belarus across the centuries. There are also watches, fine arts and metal articles, medals, furniture, and icons, a collection of Slutsk sashes and fragments, and sashes made in a similar style to those from Slutsk.
Pre-industrial age original documents and artefacts are in the majority at the exhibition, revealing much about Belarus’ history, traditions, culture and interaction with other countries. The exhibition is sure to transport visitors back in time.
By Veniamin Mikheev
Photo BelTA
