The 675^th birth anniversary of Dmitry Donskoy is a significant date that allows us to comprehend the contribution to history of one of Russia's greatest rulers and national heroes. It is also an excellent opportunity to remember the key achievements and legacy of Dmitry Donskoy (October 12, 1350 – May19, 1389).
Dmitry Donskoy united the Russian lands, continuing the policy of his ancestors to gather Russian lands around Moscow. He strengthened the power of the Moscow principality, successfully fighting his rivals – Tver, Ryazan and the Suzdal-Nizhny Novgorod principality. During his reign, Moscow became the undisputed political and spiritual centre of North-Eastern Russia

‘The Russian Metal Artworks’ section of the museum Collection features a wall platе ‘Prince Dmitry Donskoy’, created in St. Petersburg between 1904 and 1917. Round plate-panel with wide rim and smooth edge, made in the Russian style.
In the centre of the plate, in medallion, there is a relief image of Prince Dmitry Donskoy (in armour and a helmet), surrounded by a carved inscription in the stylised Old Russian script:  ‘VЄLIKI KNѦZI KNѦZI VSЄѦ RUSI DIMITRIY IѠAHHOOVICHЪ DONSKOY 8th SЄNT 1380’. The relief inscription: ‘BROTHERS DIE FOR HOMELAND, MY WORD MAY BE DONE’ is on the plate rising surface. The rim of the plate is decorated with the relief stylised foliage pattern of palmetto shoots and leaves in curls.

The plate we are describing is an original example of Russian interior artworks in the national style. Based on its artistic and stylistic features, manufacturing technique, specific decorative gilding and silvering, their combination, and taking into account similar plates, it can be dated to 1904-1917, and attributed to high-cost items in the price list of the Expedition of Storing State Papers in St. Petersburg (Goznak since 1919).

The Expedition of Storing State Papers was actively involved in galvanic gilding and galvanic silvering. These were not secondary processes, but key technologies in the production of highly secure products, especially securities and banknotes.

A similar plate is included in the catalogue-price list ‘Selling prices of art works and galvanoplastic items of the Expedition of Storing State Papers. Expedition.’ St. Petersburg, 1904 (section ‘Plates’, No. 119).