Pages: 321-336

Besides the treasure hoards dating to the Pre-Mongol period, the Department of Early Russian Art of the State Russian Museum has in its collection over one hundred artefacts from treasure hoards of unknown provenance. These jewelry articles were parts of collections gathered by M. P. Botkin, V. A. Kvashonkin, A. A. Bobrinsky, V. V. Vereshchagin, F. M. Pliushkin and N. F. Romanchenko. Among them, there is the earlier unknown “Chernigov Treasure Hoard” consisting of the 10th—12th century silver jewelry. It contains 2 Scandinavian chains of the 10th century with tips shaped as dragon and raven heads, and six twisted Russian bracelets of the 11th—12th century. M. P. Botkin’s collection contains a part of the treasure hoard of 1900 found near the Sakhnovka village (Kiev), gold ceremonial cloisonne chains of the 12th century and two pairs of three-bead temple rings. Among other jewelry from the unknown treasure hoards, there is a large collection of 3 bead temple rings of the 12th century, twisted bracelets, kolts and ryasna to hang them to a headdress, a forehead band and several torcs. Among the masterpieces in these treasure hoards, we can mention a Byzantine pectoral cross in gold frame (12th century), 3 seal-rings (end of the 12th — the beginning of the 13th century) and a couple of rare narrow hinged bracelets with lion head on the ends (2nd half of the 12th century).

Keywords: Early Rus’ treasure hoards of 11th—13th centuries, jewelry, kolt, riasny, temple pendants, torcs, chains, bracelets, seal-rings.

Information about author:

Svetlana Novakovskaya-Buchman (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Arts. The State Russian Museum. Inzhenernaya St., 4, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation
E-mail: [email protected]