Earring
ca. 1850 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Balkan women used jewellery lavishly with their traditional costume. They fastened their clothes with decorative hooks, usually linked to each other by lengths of chain. These were worn across the front of the dress, across the back of the head, and down the front of the skirt.
This piece consists of a pair of earrings linked by a chain with a central hook. The earrings are typical of those worn throughout the Balkans. They were probably inserted through the ear lobes, but were also often hooked into the hair or head scarf behind the ears. The chain hung round the back of the head, hooked into the head covering by the central hook. It was bought for 16 shillings at the International Exhibition, London, 1872.
The use of coins as pendants dates from the Ottoman period. It emphasizes the financial importance of jewellery to women. The safest way to keep their wealth secure was to wear it.
This piece consists of a pair of earrings linked by a chain with a central hook. The earrings are typical of those worn throughout the Balkans. They were probably inserted through the ear lobes, but were also often hooked into the hair or head scarf behind the ears. The chain hung round the back of the head, hooked into the head covering by the central hook. It was bought for 16 shillings at the International Exhibition, London, 1872.
The use of coins as pendants dates from the Ottoman period. It emphasizes the financial importance of jewellery to women. The safest way to keep their wealth secure was to wear it.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver with red glass beads |
| Brief description | Pair of silver earrings with connecting chain, Albania, c.1850. |
| Physical description | Pair of hoop earrings, with faceted decoration on front edge, and hinged pendants decorated with red glass beads and ending in 6-kreuzer coins (one of Maria Theresa, dated 1742, the other of Charles VI, dated 1715). The earrings are linked by a long chain of figure-of-eight links, with 17 pendent discs decorated with domed rosettes, and a central hook with cast floral decoration. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | Balkan women used jewellery lavishly with their traditional costume. They fastened their clothes with decorative hooks, usually linked to each other by lengths of chain. These were worn across the front of the dress, across the back of the head, and down the front of the skirt. This piece consists of a pair of earrings linked by a chain with a central hook. The earrings are typical of those worn throughout the Balkans. They were probably inserted through the ear lobes, but were also often hooked into the hair or head scarf behind the ears. The chain hung round the back of the head, hooked into the head covering by the central hook. It was bought for 16 shillings at the International Exhibition, London, 1872. The use of coins as pendants dates from the Ottoman period. It emphasizes the financial importance of jewellery to women. The safest way to keep their wealth secure was to wear it. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1429&A-1873 |
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| Record created | March 7, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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