Foreign Precious Metals Collection
The foreign precious metals collection contains articles that were once owned by private individuals in Latvia, as well as social, military, and religious organizations: sacral and everyday silverware (tableware, eating utensils, candlesticks, tea strainers, sugar bowls, ladles, decanters, etc.), relics, travel souvenirs, jewelry, signet-rings and seals, orders, medals, and coins.
The collection holds pieces that were donated to the museum by the Ministry of Finance in 1923, namely, the valuables of the so-called Golden fund, donated to the state by the people of Latvia. Part of the collection comes from the Cabinet of Art of the University of Latvia, Faculty of Philology and Philosophy, as well as from private collections.
The collection of precious metals holds pieces produced in Russia, the Baltics, and Europe – a few are also made in India. The objects range from the end of the 17th to the early 20th century. Some of the most extinguished Russian pieces are works by the House of Fabergé jewelry firm. The Baltic region is represented by the masterpieces of craftsmen in Riga, Jelgava, Valmiera, Cēsis, Tallinn, Tartu, Pärnu, and Vilnius. The highest European quality is demonstrated by the silverware of Augsburg, Germany.
A unique part of the museum collection is the vastest Latvian collection of precious metal and gemstone seals and signet-rings with Baltic German family coats of arms.