Memorial and Art Works Fund
The memorial and art collection includes more than 900 of the most valuable exhibits. Personal relics of Georgian and foreign artists are presented here. The oldest item belongs to the antique period. In particular, this is a theatrical mask in the form of a pendant, which was found during archaeological excavations in Vani in 1941. The collection of medals made of precious metals is important, among which the Golden Order of the Imperial Archaeological Society of Russia by Dmitry Arakishvili, the enamel and gold-plated breastplate of the People's Artist of Vano Sarajishvili are noteworthy. Unique works of art are the silver crowns of Alexander Sumbatashvili-Yuzhin. A large collection of theatrical, film and choreographic costumes is worthy of separate mention. The costumes of the great master from the films “Bashi-Achuki”, “Mamluk”, Keto and Kote decorated with gold and semi-precious stones are kept here. The costumes of the Nino Ramishvili Georgian National Ballet State Academic Troupe are important, the unique copies of the Tushuri and Khevsuruli dance halls were created according to the sketches of Soliko Virsaladze. The Adjarian chokha of the famous Georgian dancer Fridon Sulaberidze is also kept here. The costumes of the singer Sandro Inashvili stand out from the theatrical collection, one of which was specially made in Milan. This is the bullfighter’s costume from the play “Carmen”. It is distinguished by the abundance of ornaments embroidered with gold threads.
Among the works of art, there are many memorial items. Namely, Vazha-Pshavela's chokhi strings, Sergo Zakariadze's glasses from the film The Soldier's Father, David Eristavi's marble notebook, Dimitri Arakishvili's golden watch, and the phonograph with which the composer recorded Georgian folk songs on wax cylinders. Also preserved here is Dimitri Kipiani's travel bag, this unique item was made in the Royal-Imperial Factory of England, and is decorated with the royal crown and the initials of a Georgian saint in Asomtavruli. Elene Cherkezishvili's North Caucasian costume is decorated with brilliant Dagestan filigree and a richly ornamented copper belt. The collection includes Shalva Dadiani's war sword with a Turkish seal, his writing desk, and his chair.
Many items collected in the fund are related to the history of the development of various fields of art in Georgia. For example, the valuable poster printed on silk, which was presented to Davit Eristavi on January 20, 1882, on the day of the premiere of the play “Motherland”. One of the first exhibits of the museum was the curtain of the “Free Theater” founded in Moscow in 1913 by Kote Marjanishvili. This work of art, created according to the sketch of the famous Russian artist Konstantin Somov, was considered lost for many years, but in 1930 it was found in one of the Moscow theater basements and transferred to the museum.
The fund preserves such items of world-class artists as Maya Plisetskaya’s pointe shoes with her own autograph, which were donated to the museum by Sergo Parajanov. Nino Ananiashvili’s pointe shoes with her autograph are also kept here.