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| Exhibition
"Hunting weapon of XVI-XIX centuries"
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The weapon stocks of Lviv Historical Museum total more than 4.5 thousand exhibits. The gem of the whole collection are weapons used for hunting, i.e. hunting (sporting) arms.
The "Hunting Arms" exhibition is represented by 180 exhibits and chronologically covers the period of XVI-XIX centuries.
For a long period in the history of humanity there existed no distinction between weapons and working tools. Knives, swords, daggers didn't have hunting versions and were used both for fighting and for hunting. Only starting with the 16th century one can speak about the gradual formation of the hunting weapons.
The upper chronological mark of the exhibition is the end of the 19th century because since this time the pattern issue weapons have become prevalent, which led to the unification of the arms, the loss of uniqueness, originality and singularity.
All items of hunting weapons are examples of decorative and applied art. Some items were made by superb goldsmiths and jewelers, chasers, carvers, cutters and therefore are the masterpieces of human genius.
The exhibitions can be nominally divided into three groups: cold arms, throwing arms and firearms.
Cold arms are presented by different swords, knives, backswords, hangers (dirks) and daggers. The handles of many exhibits are decorated with ivory, horn, stylized into animal's hooves.
Throwing arms are presented by bows and wonderfully decorated arbalests.
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Firearms have appeared much later than the cold steel. Among the exhibits one can see guns with different types of locks (devices for sparking powder), that is, matchlocks, wheellocks, flintlocks, percussion locks. The guns differ as to the method of loading, that is, breechloaders or muzzle-loaders.
Besides smooth-bore guns there are rifled hunting guns. The collection of double-barreled guns, with damask steel barrels is also of great interest.
The air-guns where the bullet is projected from the barrel by the stream of compressed air from another original group of exhibits.
Powder flasks are exhibited as necessary accessories to hand fireguns.
The series of engravings depicting hunting taken from Lviv Historical Museum Stocks and displayed together with the collection of weapons help to create the correspondent atmosphere.
On exhibition are presented near 180 exhibits.
The approximate insurance cost of the exhibition is 450 thousand USD.
Insurance premium due to payment for Ukrainian insurance company "from all risks" - US 2200 for one month.
Payment for the exhibit's loaning from Museum - US 4500 for a month;
- US 7000 for two month;
- more than two months - according to the agreement.
Customer has to cover all expenses for the transportation security, custom's service, expenses for reception of the Museum's representatives who have to accompany the exhibits during the transportation and for the opening ceremony.
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