posted 11-03-2001 10:14 AM            

This past weekend we took my wife's parents to the "Gifts to the Tsars" exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This show, which runs through January 13, 2002 and will NOT be seen elsewhere, could easily have been subtitled "Masterpieces of 17th Century Silver". Well over half of the pieces on display were of silver, and they represent some of the finest workmanship of the time. Each piece was originally a state gift to a Tsar of Russia, so one would expect them to be magnificent, and they are.

Here are my impressions:

1.) Many of these pieces are huge! The first thing that strikes you when looking at monumental silver is how inadequate photos can be. Many of the best pieces, including those used to advertise the show, seem so much smaller in print than they really are. You almost need a scale model to pose with each piece to get a feel for them. No matter how good a picture is, you really can't grasp a basin (literally) that is about 3 feet by 4 feet, or a five foot tall standing cup, or a 13 pound ewer. The size and complexity of some of these pieces rivals the best ever made.

2.) The exhibition is arranged by origin of the gifts. Therefore, gifts from Holland are in one place, gifts from Poland in another, and so on. This allows one to really get a sense of the different styles of workmanship in various places. The Dutch silver is restrained to the point of dullness, the English pieces feature mainly chased decoration, and the German are the most exuberant and innovative. It is interesting to note that rulers from other countries often made presentations of German silver, which shows how highly regarded the Germans were.

3.) The technical skill of the silversmiths of the 17th century is still awe-inspiring. Many of the pieces look like the objects produced in the late Victorian era, but the 17th century silversmiths had no machines to aid them. If you know anything about traditional silversmithing, just try to imagine dishing out a basin 4 feet across, or a raising a ewer 2 feet tall.

Overall, the show is breathtaking. I expected a bunch of jewels and little Faberge-type things, but was blown away by the silver. My favorite piece? I would have to say a rather "diminutive" 18 inch wide gilt-silver basin, inset with mother-of pearl, by Hans Brabant of Nuremberg, circa 1550. One of the earlier pieces of silver in the show, it was highly valued by the Russian court, and for good reason.

Anyway, the show is worth making an effort to see if you will be out this direction. Let me know if any of you want to come out, and I can give you some tips.

posted 11-03-2001 07:42 PM            

Admission to the exhibit is $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, $5 for younger students, and children under 4 are free. Strollers are permitted, but no backpacks. Timed tickets are required and are availabe for entry on the quarter hour. They can be purchased in advance by calling 1-866-5GO-TSAR (recommended) or at the door. Admission to the rest of the museum is free.

Weekend hotel packages are available through the website or at 1-800-566-INDY. Illustrated catalogs are available ($65 hardback, $35 softcover).