Earring
1800-1880 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Earrings were popular among all the Slav peoples. In Russia in the 16th and 17th centuries both men and women wore them, and some silversmiths worked exclusively as earring makers. By the 19th century they were only worn by women.
From the early 18th century the design of Russian earrings followed two paths. The Russian aristocracy increasingly wore earrings of international design, but the rural population kept to the old traditional patterns. This type, with a single pendant with beads strung vertically on wire, was called odintsi, meaning single. These earrings were made by local silversmiths, who rarely marked their work. As a result, it is very difficult to tell the difference between old earrings and traditional earrings in the old style.
These earrings may be 17th century, but it is more likely that they were made in traditional style in the 19th century. They were bought from the Russian Commissioner at the Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883.
From the early 18th century the design of Russian earrings followed two paths. The Russian aristocracy increasingly wore earrings of international design, but the rural population kept to the old traditional patterns. This type, with a single pendant with beads strung vertically on wire, was called odintsi, meaning single. These earrings were made by local silversmiths, who rarely marked their work. As a result, it is very difficult to tell the difference between old earrings and traditional earrings in the old style.
These earrings may be 17th century, but it is more likely that they were made in traditional style in the 19th century. They were bought from the Russian Commissioner at the Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver-plated copper and brass wire strung with glass beads |
| Brief description | Pair of silver-plated wire earrings (odintsi) strung with glass beads, Russia, 1800-1880. |
| Physical description | Pair of earrings made from silver-plated copper and brass wire. For each, the circular wire which goes through the ear lobe is extended downwards vertically ending in a loop. This vertical wire is threaded with three glass beads, one clear, one opaque, and one orange, and two horizontal brass wires with two green beads on each. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | Earrings were popular among all the Slav peoples. In Russia in the 16th and 17th centuries both men and women wore them, and some silversmiths worked exclusively as earring makers. By the 19th century they were only worn by women. From the early 18th century the design of Russian earrings followed two paths. The Russian aristocracy increasingly wore earrings of international design, but the rural population kept to the old traditional patterns. This type, with a single pendant with beads strung vertically on wire, was called odintsi, meaning single. These earrings were made by local silversmiths, who rarely marked their work. As a result, it is very difficult to tell the difference between old earrings and traditional earrings in the old style. These earrings may be 17th century, but it is more likely that they were made in traditional style in the 19th century. They were bought from the Russian Commissioner at the Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 534&A-1883 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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