In the museum collection one can find an antique tray made in 1864. Members of the Murom petty bourgeois society ordered this item in Moscow in order to present bread and salt (traditional Russian symbol of hospitality) on it to Alexey Yermakov, Mayor of Murom. Thanks to him a public water system was installed in the district town of Murom. On the serving tray, there are depicted the buildings of the town: a water tower, fountains and a water pump. The item is made of silver, decorated with a carved pattern and gilding.
Trays appeared in Russia around the 16th century. At first, they were made of wood and covered with paintings. Then came metal, most often iron trays, and only later, they were cast in silver. Silver trays were expensive and were mainly used by people from the rich classes.
The construction of a public water system was an important event. Murom was among the first 10 Russian cities where it appeared. At that time, there were no such utilities even in the large provincial city of Vladimir. The equipment for the public water system was purchased in Germany. The grand opening of the tower took place on August 26, 1864. It supplied water to 16 hydrants and fountains throughout the city.
The structures depicted on this tray exactly copy the real ones. The fountains have not survived to this day, but the water tower of 1864 still stands in the center of Murom. Also, there is still a red-brick building of an old water pump with a high pipe on the bank of the Oka.
City mayor Alexey Yermakov was born in 1798 in Chelyabinsk. He was from a merchant family. At first, he worked as a petty official in the government service, and later — in private companies. In 1847, after becoming a merchant of the 3rd guild, he moved to Murom.
In 1851, Yermakov began to be a part of the public life. He became a merchant of the 1st guild, was a trustee of the city hospital, and actively promoted the opening of a women’s school in the city. From 1863 until his death, Yermakov was the mayor of Murom.
During the Yermakov’s active work as a mayor, in addition to the public water system, a stone chapel was built on the territory of the Trinity Convent, and five domes on the cathedral were gilded. On January 22, 1865, the mayor was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 4th degree with the motto “Benefit, honor and glory” for services to the community. In 1867, using Yermakov’s money a theater building was built, and in 1868, a children’s shelter, a telegraph office and soldiers’ barracks were constructed. The mayor died, leaving no heirs. He was buried in Murom in the Napolny cemetery.
Trays appeared in Russia around the 16th century. At first, they were made of wood and covered with paintings. Then came metal, most often iron trays, and only later, they were cast in silver. Silver trays were expensive and were mainly used by people from the rich classes.
The construction of a public water system was an important event. Murom was among the first 10 Russian cities where it appeared. At that time, there were no such utilities even in the large provincial city of Vladimir. The equipment for the public water system was purchased in Germany. The grand opening of the tower took place on August 26, 1864. It supplied water to 16 hydrants and fountains throughout the city.
The structures depicted on this tray exactly copy the real ones. The fountains have not survived to this day, but the water tower of 1864 still stands in the center of Murom. Also, there is still a red-brick building of an old water pump with a high pipe on the bank of the Oka.
City mayor Alexey Yermakov was born in 1798 in Chelyabinsk. He was from a merchant family. At first, he worked as a petty official in the government service, and later — in private companies. In 1847, after becoming a merchant of the 3rd guild, he moved to Murom.
In 1851, Yermakov began to be a part of the public life. He became a merchant of the 1st guild, was a trustee of the city hospital, and actively promoted the opening of a women’s school in the city. From 1863 until his death, Yermakov was the mayor of Murom.
During the Yermakov’s active work as a mayor, in addition to the public water system, a stone chapel was built on the territory of the Trinity Convent, and five domes on the cathedral were gilded. On January 22, 1865, the mayor was awarded the Order of St. Vladimir 4th degree with the motto “Benefit, honor and glory” for services to the community. In 1867, using Yermakov’s money a theater building was built, and in 1868, a children’s shelter, a telegraph office and soldiers’ barracks were constructed. The mayor died, leaving no heirs. He was buried in Murom in the Napolny cemetery.
