Pendants

Earring-like pendants were known as kolti in Russia. They were attached to the head apparel with the help of pierced pearls or cassock chains (for golden pendants) or pierced silver stocks (for silver pendants). Pendants hung on both sides of the face at cheek level. Worn by Russian women on special occasions, they were also popular in other countries with cultural ties to the Byzantine Empire. Pendants were decorated with images executed in various techniques, designed to symbolically protect the wearer.

Works discovered in Russian caches were commissioned by members of the upper classes and were typical of Russian urban culture in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries. Old Russian pendants were made of gold and decorated with cloisonné enamelwork. Silver objects were decorated with niello and engraved images. A third group of star-shaped or radial pendants echo the forms of oriental works of jewellery.