Funds

The fund of the Mir Castle Complex Museum consists of 2487 units of the main and 2694 units of the scientific and auxiliary fund. The collection of the museum fund is carried out by acquiring museum items (purchase), receiving items as gifts from individuals and legal entities, as well as during museum expeditions, making copies commissioned by the museum, etc. The main fund is distributed among 16 collections, the most significant of which are "Interior Items", "Items of decorative and applied art", "Numismatics", "Written sources", "Archeology", "Household items", "Clothing and accessories". 


Interior items, one of the museum's richest collections, including items of sophisticated furniture in the style of Louis XIV and chests with massive metal intertwined ribbons, made by masters of the 16th – 19th centuries, living-room furniture sets in the styles of Neo-Rococo, Art Deco and Modern, as well as the rarest candle holders and frames for photographs.

Furniture set of 5 items; Western Europe; late XIX – early XX centuries

 

 Seating set of 5 items; France; late XIX century


 

Cassone (chest); France; XVII – early  XVIII centuries
 

 
Louis XIV style table; France; 2nd half of the XIX century
 

 

The Prince Svyatopolk-Mirsky's armchair; Chmiel I.S.; 1934

Archeology collection – the 16th century tiles and  more late tiles, that was found during archaeological work.
 

Tile with floral ornaments; Belarus; late XVI – 1st half XVII centuries

 

A tile with a polychrome floral ornament; Belarus; late XVI – 1st half of the  XVII centuries
 

Numismatic collection – ancient coins of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (orts, grosz, half-grosz, thalers, two-denares, shalyagies, triples); as well as Western European coins of the XVII–XVIII centuries.

Collection of Old-Printed Books – The Cicero book is presented at the museum exposition (Paris, 1554). Between the pages of an old leather-bound book representing the speeches of the renowned Roman orator Cicero, several yellowed leaves were found that had been lying in this book for 240 years and were preserved by some miracle - notes of 17th century Navahrudak students, then called "skolarzy".Ink is not faded, texts are easy to read. Record of the Jesuit library of Navahrudak; 3-volume dictionary,end of the 18 th century. Psalter of David (in two parts). Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, 1786.

The collection of decorative and applied art is diverse in its subjects: unique samples of tapestry art by Western European masters, fragments of Slutsk type belts from the 70s and 80s XVIII centuries, Kesa (silk tapestry) of Chinese masters of Henan province, Chinese porcelain, caskets, snuff boxes.
 

Tapestry "The struggle between Theseus and Taurus before Minos and Ariadne"; last quarter 17th century

 

 

Tapestry "The triumph of Gottfried of Bouillon and the surrender of Altamor" France; 17th century

 


 

Tapestry "Queen Zenobia in front of Emperor Aurelian"; Flanders, Brussels ; 2nd half of 17th century


 

Chinese porcelain small statuaries "The Eight Immortals"; Qing Dynasty (1644–1911)

In the collection "Clothing and Accessories" store the rarest items of ladies’ closets, folding ivory fans, French women's dancing shoes, a men's cylinder made of black silk by Georg Kraml & Sohn, and a French free cut dress of golden lace.

 

 

Women's dress; France;  late 19th – early 20th centuries

 

 

Women's gloves; 1st half of the 19th century

 

The collection of "Household items" is represented by samples of the West European finest porcelain from the Meissen manufactory, utensils made on private porcelain manufactures by the Kornilov brothers and the Kuznetsov brothers, ceramic items, tin, copper and silver utensils.

 

 

Service; Kornilov Brothers Porcelain Factory; Russia; 1861–1884


 

Tea and coffee set; Germany; 1880s


 

Inkstand; Russia; 1900–1910s


 

Liqueur set; France; 2nd half of 19th century


 

Copper ware;  early 20th century

Acquisition of museum funds

Objects with certain values become museum pieces as a result of one of the main activities of the museum – acquisition of museum funds.

The acquisition of the museum fund represents a focused, planned process that includes several criteria.

In accordance with Code on Culture of the Republic of Belarus, acquisition is carried out by:

  • Buying the items of museum importance

  • Receiving the items of museum significance as donation and sponsor support

  • Exchange of museum objects, auxiliary scientific and basic materials

  • Revealing the items of museum importance in the course of scientific research and archeological studies

  •  Creation of insurance copies of museum objects

  • Other means not contrary to the pieces of legislation

The Mir Castle Complex takes actions focused on replenishment of funds and improvement of museum exposition. The concept of scientific and fund work defines the set of actions for the purpose of acquisition in accordance with the specialization of the museum and the acquisition programme.