Prince Serebrenni

“Svyatogor” Hard stone carving studio
2014

In the 16th century, the brothers Vasily Semenovich and Pyotr Semenovich, Boyars from the noble family of Serebrenni became famous for their military victories. Prince Vasily was a commander in the campaigns against Kazan. During the seizure of the city in 1552, he led the siege and fought in the assault, and then stayed in the seized city as its Governor. In 1558, Serebrenni seized the town Yuriev in Livonia (today the Baltic states); in 1559, he defeated a detachment led by Baron Fölkersam and submitted Marienburg, and then participated in various Western campaigns for about ten years more. His sole heir also became a military commander — and the last one in the Serebrenni family.

Prince Serebrenni, the Voivode (Governor) of Moscow in the 16th century.

History

Prince Pyotr Semenovich also took part in the Livonian War and the Kazan campaign. Together with Alexander Gorbatyi-Shuisky, in 1552 he defeated the Tatarian prince Epancha who attacked Russian troops, hiding in the woods. Despite his numerous military achievements, he was executed by oprichniki (guardsmen of Ivan the Terrible) in 1507.

The Princes Serebrenni, the Moscow Boyars and governors of the 16th century, became the prototypes of the main character in Alexei Tolstoy’s novel “Prince Serebrenni”, a brave warrior and a noble knight.

The Stone

In creating the figure of the Moscow governor, the artists once again tapped into the period of the reign of Ivan the Terrible that was full of vivid characters and colourful costumes. The character being portrayed is dressed in a caftan — a traditional garment worn by the Russian nobility in the 16th century — with its rich fabric (embroidered silk or brocade) shown through the vibrant play of variegated “calico” jasper. The golden embroidery on the chest and the hem is expressed in a tell-tale manner — using carved elements made of tiger’s eye. The Governor is wearing a hat of the same material as the caftan — it is trimmed with precious sable fur, its shine closely imitated with a thoroughly selected piece of tiger’s eye. The subtle mastery manifests itself in the elaborately carved precious embroidery on the hat: each pearl is cut separately from white magnesite.

The fine scarf in the Governor’s hand that is carved from translucent chalcedony, and the caftan hem thrown back by a gust of wind, so that the hem of his shirt shows, adds emotion to the image. This piece of the costume is cut from greyish jasper that accurately reproduces shades of thin linen. It is decorated with stained engraving imitating embroidery.

The material for the sash was selected with special accuracy — it is cut from jaspillite in such a way as to create the effect of exquisite embroidery on the edges of the cloth and the rich silk fringe at its ends using the natural pattern of the stone that forms reddish-brown bands. The chalcedony base of the figure in soft colours balances its saturated, emotional palette.

“Silver Prince”, an excerpt from the novel by Alexei Tolstoy

“... Serebrenni was not born for negotiation. Rejecting the subtleties of the ambassadorial science, he wanted to conduct business openly and, to the extreme annoyance of the clerks accompanying him, he did not allow them to use any tricks and roundabout ways. The royal advisers, ready to make concessions, soon took advantage of the Prince’s simplicity, learned from him about all our weaknesses, and raised their demands. At some point he could not stand that any longer: with the whole Sejm present, he banged his fist on the table and ripped the final agreement prepared for signing. “You and your King are liars and intriguers! I’m talking to you honestly, and all you do is devise how you can win by cheating me! That will not do!” This emotional and straightforward act destroyed in an instant success of the previous negotiations, and Serebrenni would not have escaped disgrace but, fortunately, an instruction came from Moscow on the same day not to conclude peace but rather to renew the war. Serebrenni departed from Vilna with joy; he changed from his velvet garments into his shiny plated mail, and rushed into the battle, beating the Lithuanians everywhere. He was better in military service than in matters that required subtle thinking, and he received great praise from Russians and Lithuanians alike.

The Prince’s appearance matched his temper. The features of his face, rather pleasant than handsome, were marked with frankness and sincerity. In his dark grey eyes shaded with dark lashes, a keen observer would see extraordinary, unconscious and seemingly involuntary determination that did not let him think even for a tiny moment when action was needed. His uneven, ruffled eyebrows and a slanting furrow between them indicated some confusion and inconsistency in thought. But his mouth had a gentle and determined curve, revealing honest commitment that nothing could shake and his smile showed undemanding, almost childlike kindness, so that some, perhaps, would think he was of limited intelligence, if the generosity that seemed to breathe in his every feature did not vouch that he would always understand with his heart what he, perhaps, would not be able to explain to himself using his intellectual powers. The general impression was in his favour, and this gave rise to the belief that he could be safely trusted in all cases requiring determination and self-sacrifice, but that he was not keen on thinking about his actions in advance and deep consideration.