Photo: Prinstcreen Facebook / Istorijski muzej SrbijeThe future permanent exhibition of the History Museum of Serbia has recently been enriched with three superb replicas of the crowns of medieval Serbian rulers: Emperor Dušan, King Milutin, and Despot Stefan Lazarević.
The author of the crown reconstruction is filigree artist Goran Ristović Pokimica.
The replica of the crown of despot Stefan / Printscreen Facebook / History Museum of Serbia
The reconstruction of the crown of despot Stefan Lazarević was based on a fresco from the Manasija monastery. It is made of gold-plated silver, obsidian, tourmaline, aquamarine, garnet, amethyst, cultured rubies and sapphires, and freshwater pearls.
The replica of the crown of King Milutin / Printscreen Facebook / History Museum of Serbia
The replica of the crown of King Milutin was made on the basis of a fresco in the King's Church in the Studenica monastery, and the materials used were gilded silver, rubies, sapphires, amethyst, lapis lazuli, and pearls.
A replica of Emperor Dušan's crown was made based on the appearance of the crown on the fresco of this Serbian ruler in Lesnovo Monastery (Republic of North Macedonia). The replica of Emperor Dušan's crown weighs 1694.81 grams, has 14 cultured rubies, 14 cultured sapphires, 16 oblong rubies, 16 lapis lazuli, 12 amethysts, and 304 freshwater pearls.
The replica of the crown of Emperor Dušan / Printscreen Facebook / History Museum of Serbia
The difference between an original and a replica crown is the metal used to make it. While the original crown was almost certainly made of gold, the replica is made of gilded silver.
The History Museum of Serbia plans to produce more than 20 replicas of the crowns of Serbia's medieval rulers. All objects made in that project will be exhibited in the central hall of the new building of the History Museum of Serbia, the former Main Railway Station in Belgrade built in 1884. The ceremonial opening of the new building of the History Museum of Serbia is planned for the end of 2023.
By: Ana Kralj
