L. V. Perars’ka, the Head of the Department of Medieval Kyiv at the Museum of Historical Treasures of Ukraine, and Special Research Assistant in the Department of Medieval and Later Antiquities at The British Museum in her work ‘Treasures from Ancient Kyiv in The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Dumbortan Oaks‘:
“This type of jewelry is often called Rusian-Byzantine, but as used here the term “Byzantine” characterizes the type and quality of art, not its place of manufacture. Byzantine influence on the artistic culture of Kyivan Rus was different at different periods, and although the two cultures were closely connected, the development of art in Rus was a result of its own background and culture.
Since the eleventh century, local architects, painters, and goldsmiths prospered in Kyiv. The numerous treasures of medieval Kyiv hidden in the ground indicate through the shape of their jewelry, style, and subjects that Kyiv developed its own goldsmiths’ workshops and traditions out of its Byzantine heritage. The remains of jewelry workshops, with tools and bits of enamel, were found on the grounds of the princely palace in Kyiv. Among the items found was an iron form that was used to make each half of a kolt’s convex section and a bronze pattern with a cutout openwork depiction of two birds flanking a tree that was used as a model in preparing the gold sheet. This matrix fits the depiction on one of the kolts from the Museum…
No exact copy of a Byzantine object has been located in the Kyivan jewelry that has been found. Furthermore, no hoard of this period has been discovered in Constantinople containing pieces manufactured in local workshops. Unlike Kyivan jewelry, the Byzantine pieces of the same period (including earrings, rings, crosses, cameos, steatite icons) are not clearly tied to any particular center of manufacture. One can discern a difference only in the quality of manufacture among groups of gold jewelry with enamel, pearls, and gems.”
Kyiv Rus’ cloisonné enamel medallions dating to 1000-1200 AD at Metropolitan Museum >
“Gardariki, Ukraine” ebook has a new perspective at the origin of Kyiv Rus state.
