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Chain with Birds and Geometric Motifs

1000–1200
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 300
Chains, called riazni, were created from small cloisonné enamel medallions. The chains may have joined layers of dress, been worn as necklaces or bracelets, or used to suspend circular or crescent-shaped pendants known as temple pendants or kolti. Rus’ women wore temple pendants in pairs, suspended beside the face, at the temple, as part of their elaborate headdress.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Chain with Birds and Geometric Motifs
  • Date: 1000–1200
  • Geography: Made in Kyiv (probably), Ukraine
  • Culture: Kyivan Rus’
  • Medium: Cloisonné enamel, gold
  • Dimensions: Overall: 4 9/16 x 15/16 x 3/16 in. (11.6 x 2.4 x 0.5 cm)
    Overall (without ring): 3 15/16 x 15/16 x 3/16 in. (10 x 2.4 x 0.5 cm)
    Overall (with 17.190.682): 10 3/8 x 15/16 x 3/16 in. (26.4 x 2.4 x 0.5 cm)
  • Classification: Enamels-Cloisonné
  • Credit Line: Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
  • Object Number: 17.190.681
  • Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Temple Pendant with Two Sirens Flanking a Tree of Life (front) and Confronted Birds (back), Cloisonné enamel, gold, Kyivan Rus’
Temple Pendant with Two Sirens Flanking a Tree of Life (front) and Confronted Birds (back)
Kyivan Rus’
11th–12th century
Chain with Birds and Trees of Life, Cloisonné enamel, gold, Kyivan Rus’
Chain with Birds and Trees of Life
Kyivan Rus’
1000–1200
Chain with Birds and Geometric Motifs, Cloisonné enamel, gold, Kyivan Rus’
Chain with Birds and Geometric Motifs
Kyivan Rus’
1000–1200
Chain with Birds and Trees of Life, Cloisonné enamel, gold, Kyivan Rus’
Chain with Birds and Trees of Life
Kyivan Rus’
1000–1200
Temple Pendant with Two Birds Flanking a Tree of Life (front) and Geometric Lead Motifs (back), Gold, silver, and enamel worked in cloisonné, Kyivan Rus’
Temple Pendant with Two Birds Flanking a Tree of Life (front) and Geometric Lead Motifs (back)
Kyivan Rus’
ca. 1000–1200

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Chain with Birds and Geometric Motifs - Kyivan Rus’ - The Metropolitan Museum of Art