National Art Museum acquired a Slutsk sash more than four meters long
The National Art Museum of Belarus has enriched its collection with a new valuable exhibit — a complete Slutsk sash, approximately 4 meters 60 centimeters long, which was acquired from a private individual. A state television report hinted that its price could be very high — a sum with five zeros, writes Reform.news.
The uniqueness of this sash is that it is perfectly preserved: it features a rich pattern of golden threads, as well as a rare detail — original fringes at the ends. Such elements often do not survive to our days, which is why this find is considered truly valuable.
Researchers date the sash to approximately 1807 and call it one of the finest examples of its time. It is known that during that period, the Slutsk Manufactory belonged to Karol Stanisław Radziwiłł — and a corresponding mark has even been preserved on the sash.
Slutsk sashes were an important element of the attire of wealthy nobility. They were woven from silk, as well as gold and silver threads. Initially, such sashes were brought from the East, but over time, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania established its own production, which reached a very high level of craftsmanship.
The Slutsk Manufactory itself was founded in 1760 by Prince Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł. To train local craftsmen, a specialist — Jan Madjarski, an artisan of Armenian origin — was invited. Production continued for about 50 years and left behind a glorious cultural heritage.
Today, Slutsk sashes are considered a great rarity: fewer than a thousand such items have survived worldwide, and only a few dozen are in Belarusian museums. A significant part of the collections was lost during World War II.
The acquired sash will not be exhibited yet — it is planned to be stored in the museum's collections.
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