The collection of golden articles from various periods of history, including the treasures from the Gaimanov grave and Tolstaya grave, gigantic Scythian burial mounds dating back to the fourth century B.C. On display is the burial of a Scythian queen with her child from Tolstaya grave. Among the treasures found in the burial mound are a gold sheath of a short sword (akinaka) decorated with reliefs, openwork masks, golden plaques and pendants, and a splendid relic of antique jeweller's skill, a massive gold pectoral (breast ornament) with scenes of Scythian everyday life and mythological motifs (fourth century B.C.) Special attention may be drawn to articles from the burial mounds of Samaritan queens (100 B.C. to the first and second centuries A.D.) made by Egyptian, Greek, Persian and Indian craftsmen. Massive gold personal ornaments inset with pearls and precious stones from the rich treasure found near the village of Hlodosa in Kirovohrad district (fourth to the early eighth centuries) are also on display. The great skills of Kievan jewelers are demonstrated by golden shoulder bands (barmy), temple pendants, a diadem unearthed in the village of Sakhnovka, and other articles executed in the elaborate technique of cloisonne.

The museum possesses many articles by Ukrainian gold and silversmiths of the fourteenth to sixteenth centuries. These include icon and gospel mounts set with emeralds, rubies, sapphires and pearls; mitres and chalices. Among the highlights of jewelry made by Kievan masters Ivan Ravich, Ivan Moshchenko, Mefody Narbutovich, and others.

adapted from "Kiev, Architectural
Landmarks & Art Museums"
Aurora Art Publishers - 1987