Chain
1800-1860 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
In the 17th century, Russian men and women of all ranks wore long chains of heavy silver filigree. By the 19th century these chains had fallen out of fashion. Only priests, and people who wore traditional dress, continued to use them. It is impossible to date these chains accurately, as they remained unchanged for centuries, and are rarely marked.
Most were made of plain silver, but silversmiths in the town of Veliky Ustyug, in the north of European Russia, made fine enamelled chains in the 17th century. These were extensively copied in the 19th century, with the revival of Russian nationalism.
Some chains were purely decorative, but most carried religious pendants. This chain has an octagonal pendant, which would originally have contained an icon or cross. It hangs from a square bead with an image of Christ's head on the front; the impression said to have been left on the veil of Veronica.
Most were made of plain silver, but silversmiths in the town of Veliky Ustyug, in the north of European Russia, made fine enamelled chains in the 17th century. These were extensively copied in the 19th century, with the revival of Russian nationalism.
Some chains were purely decorative, but most carried religious pendants. This chain has an octagonal pendant, which would originally have contained an icon or cross. It hangs from a square bead with an image of Christ's head on the front; the impression said to have been left on the veil of Veronica.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Enamelled silver |
| Brief description | Long enamelled silver chain with matching octagonal pendant, Russia, 19th century. |
| Physical description | Chain of double-sided quatrefoil links, enamelled in white, black, green and yellow, with matching tapered terminals. A pendant octagonal frame, lacking back and contents, and decorated with stylised tulips in white, black, yellow, opaque turquoise, and clear dark green, enamel hanging from a small octagonal bead with the face of Christ (the vernicle) on the front. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | In the 17th century, Russian men and women of all ranks wore long chains of heavy silver filigree. By the 19th century these chains had fallen out of fashion. Only priests, and people who wore traditional dress, continued to use them. It is impossible to date these chains accurately, as they remained unchanged for centuries, and are rarely marked. Most were made of plain silver, but silversmiths in the town of Veliky Ustyug, in the north of European Russia, made fine enamelled chains in the 17th century. These were extensively copied in the 19th century, with the revival of Russian nationalism. Some chains were purely decorative, but most carried religious pendants. This chain has an octagonal pendant, which would originally have contained an icon or cross. It hangs from a square bead with an image of Christ's head on the front; the impression said to have been left on the veil of Veronica. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 132-1866 |
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| Record created | March 7, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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