Different stages of making gold and silver items are visually demonstrated in the Gothic Hall. These are artifacts of jewelry art, miniature plastic arts of Constantinopolitan, Russian and West European craftsmen. There are examples of the 11th – 12th cc., Golden Age of the Novgorod toreutics, connected with the Byzantine Imperial House, the Prince's and the Episcopal Court: antique Eucharistic vessels, a large and a small pyxes.
Works of jewelers, bone, stone and wood carvers of the Mongol Invasion period (13th – 14th cc.) are demonstrated by the rare items for personal use that give information about the local features of miniature plastic arts. Articles of unique church everyday items (14th –15th cc.) reveal the essence of Orthodox service. Particular attention should be paid to the worldwide known panagiarian of Sophia that was made by Ivan, jeweler from Novgorod, in 1435.
The exposition also displays such artifacts that give evidence about contacts of medieval Novgorod with countries of Byzantine and Western Europe. The Ivory chest of Constantinople, gospel bindings, made by craftsmen from Limoges, France, the chest from Rhineland, the reliquary, made by German craftsmen.
The Cross Chamber accommodates works of ceremonial religious and profane art showing the evolution of gold and silver making in Novgorod (16th –17th cc.).
Particular interest arouses in respect of the articles of the first half of the 16th c. which were made using refined filigree, cast refined relief, precious stones – cabochons. The exposition also displays well-made silver and golden covers of communion and pectoral crosses, pectoral icons from Cathedral of St. Sophia, the Gospel from St. George Monastery.
The panagia of Archbishop Pimen with the Byzantine cameo of the 11th c., an oval carved icon in the golden cover with refined impregnation of enamel and precious sapphires attracts attention as well.
Items for personal use of Novgorodian bishops (15th-16th cc.), things for divine service, coming from the sacristy of Cathedral of St. Sophia are worthy of appreciation. They are notable for rich ornamental decoration, high technique and artistic quality. These are croziers of Metropolitan Herontiy and Archbishop Pimen, a holy-water bowl of 1593, a censer of 1586.
Church antiques of the 17th c. that came from other Novgorod temples and monasteries form the most numerous group of monuments that were once found in the Novgorod temples. Censers from Cloister of Holy Spirit and Antony's Monastery, the communion cross made by Grigory Lopkov in 1690, the ripidions from Cathedral of St. Sophia and the panagia of Metropolitan Macarius, the cover of the big diptych St. Euphemius Vyazhishchsky demonstrate high professionalism of Novgorodian chasers and engravers. The plate of 1659 for the consecrated cross from the Vyazhishchsky Monastery looks harmonious and solemn. The logical construction of the floral ornament, the height of relief chasing, the accuracy in transferring of decor in the carved design, the cleanness of decoration are seen in every work.
Works of enamellers of the 17th c. are interesting and important. These are the samples of Orthodox church household items: covers of folding icons-cum-prayer, the Gospel of 1654, the panagia from St. George Monastery. Works of the Novgorod Jewellery School are generally characterized by a rich ornamental language, combinations of enamel hues.