Natalia V. Eniosova, Elena A. Rybina

Lomonosov Moscow State University (eniosova@gmail.com;ear42@list.ru)

Key words: metal mirrors, medieval Rus, production technique, pewter.

The article considers the result of chemical and technical analysis of metal cases of the folding hinged mirrors the collection of which at the moment counts 61 examples which is originated from Novgorod, Pskov, Pereslavl-Zaleskiy, Moscow, Smolensk and Pskov region. Unlike the Western European samples produced from silver, copper and pewter, metal-cased mirrors found on the territory of Rus cast from low-melt lead-tin alloys. The analysis of the chemical composition of the metal-cased mirrors from Novgorod, Pskov and Moscow showed that cast samples were produced from the pewter alloyed by copper. Separate parts of the composite cases were made from different metals consisted of tin, lead and copper in different proportions.

Stylistic and technological features of mirrors’ cases of the 13th – 15th cc. found in towns of medieval Rus give an opportunity to allocate a group of import articles and the objects of local production.