Jewelry

Number of Cases
3000+
The role of jewelry in people's life is not limited only to embellishing the person who wears it.
Jewelry is a sign of social position, status, religious affiliation, as well as transitory and transitory statuses in the course of life. It is precisely for this reason that it is interesting and rewarding to research.

Most of the objects in the collection belong to the period of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century, but there are also older ones.

The collection consists of over 3,000 items.

The curator in charge of the collection is Jelena Vuletić, museum advisor: jelena.vuletic@etnografskimuzej.rs
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Belt

Inv. No. 33362
The belt is the work of a goldsmith (a master of jewelry making) inspired by Byzantine motifs, such as the double-headed eagle. It was worn by members of the nobility.

Kratovo, northeastern Macedonia
Late 18th and early 19th century

Ring

Inv. No. 5624
The ring belongs to the signet ring period between the 1380s and the 1450s. The displayed ring bears the following inscription: "Ring of Mara, Nikola's wife... and may God help." It is presumed to have belonged to the wife of the nobleman Nikola Skobaljić (a Serbian duke from the Leskovac area).

Mrkonje, Medveđa, southern Serbia
15th century

Ring

Inv. No. 16416
The filigree jewelry is very diverse in its shapes, but the most numerous in the collection are those with a flower-shaped head. The displayed example was acquired in 1904 for an exhibition opened to mark the centenary of the Karađorđe Uprising (1762–1817), led by Karađorđe, the leader of the First Serbian Uprising, and the opening of the Ethnological Museum. It was acquired by Nikola Zega (1863–1940), curator and director of the museum.

Priština, Kosovo, Serbia
Late 19th and early 20th century

Ring

Inv. No. 4225
The displayed example features a large white stone – the "eagle's eye." It was worn by breastfeeding women to ensure they had enough milk. The ring was often used as an amulet to protect against demons, witches, and vampires. Belief in the magical, healing, and protective powers of such rings has persisted to this day.

Novi Pazar, Raška, southern Serbia
Early 20th century

Chest jewelry – đerdan

Inv. No. 34067
A piece of fabric, similar to an apron, adorned with sewn coins. Its length varies from the neck to below the knees, depending on the amount of money sewn onto it. It represents part of the dowry that a girl presents and wears.

Bosnia and Herzegovina
Late 19th and early 20th century

Bracelets

Inv. No. 16480 и 16487
These bracelets appeared in Serbia at the end of the 19th century under the influence of the fashion dictated by Viennese goldsmiths. The displayed bracelets were made by Belgrade goldsmith Radovan Pašković for exhibition at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris.

Belgrade
1900

Bracelet – grivna

Inv. No. 44794
These bracelets were made in the 17th century but were worn even later, up until the early 20th century. Women wore one or two of these bracelets on their arms.

Late 17th and early 18th century

Buckle – pafta

Inv. No. 9606
The buckles (pafte) are of the characteristic Pirot type. Engraved on the inner side are the initials of the master craftsman D.N.P. PIROT – Dimitrije Petrović, a Pirot goldsmith, who made them for exhibition at the 1900 World's Fair in Paris.

Pirot, southern Serbia
1900

Pearl necklace with ring and brooch

Inv. No. 23129
The tepeluk is a small women's cap made of red wool, decorated with pearls sewn in the shape of small cups. This type of cap has no parallel in the traditional costumes of other Balkan countries.

Late 19th and early 20th century

Čelenka – diadem

Inv. No. 34133
The chelenka in Turkish refers to a feathered ornament adorned with precious stones, which was awarded as a decoration in the Turkish army. The čelenka symbolizes heroism and is a symbol of the fine and rich attire of heroes.

Gornji Milanovac, central Serbia
Late 19th century
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