|
The
best know galleries in the Hermitage in St petersberg are the two treasure
chambers where the collections of gold and jewellery are shown. An important
part of display compries jewellery from the Greek colonies around the Black
Sea .This gold jewellery ,dating from the 6th to the 2nd century BC,was
found by Russain archaelogist during excavations in the 19th and 20th centuries.
The Greek & Jewellery
Jewellery
is meant to be worn, and this was also the Greek view.Jewellery Underlines
the beauty of the wearer and confers socail status .What has survived is
mostly gold,but there were also pieces in silver, bronze and even terraccotta,
depending on the wealth of the person acquiring .The raw gold came mainly
from persia. |
|
|
|
|
|
A Pair of earrings.Gold,L 5 cm.330-300
BC. tomb of the Bolsjaja Bliznitsa. |
|
Pair of bracelets
with lion figures.Gold,bronze & enamel,W7.3 cm.2nd half of the 4th century
BC. Tomb of Bolsjaja Bliznitsa. |
|
Greek jewellery
was assembled from separate component which were hammered into shape from
a thin sheet of gold in moulds.Hatchings and figures were gouoed from the
gold and craftsmen often worked with filigree -- thin,twisted threads of
gold with which highly delicate decorations were applied.
The Greeks offered jewels to the gods and used them to
decorate divine images. The jewellery in the hermitage collection relates
to the rich funerary culture of the variuos Pontic colonies.The burail chamber
was filled with essentail and useful artefacts for the journey to the hereafter
and life there. wealthier Greeks were buried in mounds or tumuli.Gold objects
and large jewels were found in the burail chamber.More personal jewellery
such as earring ,chains,plaques and laurel wreaths were out on the body
itself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Necklace with three rows of pendants.330-300BC.Gold,L
37.8 cm,H 6 cm.330-300 BC.Tomb of Bolsjaja Bliznitsa. |
|
Pendant with a Nereide
on a Hippocampus.Gold,enamel,H 14,5 cm. 2nd half 4th century BC. Tomb of
Bolsjaja Bliznitsa. |
|
Greek influence
on goldsmith's work in the Pontic area is evident from the 6th century
BC.The animal art of the original inhabitants,the Scythains,disappeared
and Greek design gradually became dominant,not least because of the arrival
of many goldsmiths from Greece in search of wealthy clients.Images courtesy:
State Hermitage Museum,St Peterburg. |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The Greek & Jewellery
