Female

C/2000/2183

Silver buckle/clasp of two convex discs with repoussé, chased, and engraved decoration. As in the previous two examples, the surfaces of both clasp pieces are covered by a large rosette, surrounding smaller floral motifs that encircle a central, green paste (glass stone). The larger rosettes consist of eight repoussé petals alternating with cypresses of equal height, positioned with their tops towards the centre. The decoration is completed with small floral motifs and rows of relief dots. The outer extreme of the discs is trimmed with an additional element of an anthemion flanked by symmetrical scrollwork. The clasp fastening is covered by an oblong element with a curved outline, set with a red paste in the middle. This central element can be considered a stylised rendering of a rosette in between two anthemia. All decoration details are crafted with fine chasing and engraving. On the reverse side, there are two long and narrow bars for attaching the clasp to a belt.

Total length: 31.3 cm. Diameter: 12 cm. 

Donation from the Association of Friends of the Leventis Museum

C/2002/2623

Low-quality silver buckle/clasp, composed of two convex discs that are joined by means of a cast hook and a corresponding loop. Both discs are slightly elongated by a stylised floral design (reminiscent of an anthemion?) that adorns their outer extreme. The decoration is rendered in repoussé, chasing, and engraving. It consists of a central rosette, encircled by a band with a foliate scroll pattern. Around this band, twelve petals, alternatingly concave and convex, form a larger rosette. The convex repoussé petals are decorated with floral designs. The composition is bordered by a row of relief dots that extends along the edge. On the reverse side, two bars are soldered to the discs (Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 1996, 226, fig. 236).

Total length: 22.6 cm. Diameter: 9.5 cm.

Former Collection of Pavlos Neophytou.

Donation from the Association of Friends of the Leventis Museum.

C/2002/2624

Low-quality silver buckle/clasp of two disc-shaped elements, joined by means of a cast hook and a corresponding loop. At the outer extreme of each disc, the rim extends to a sharp point. Both halves of the clasp are similarly decorated. At the centre there is a composite rosette inside a frame, around which paisley-shaped repoussé petals in a diagonal arrangement alternate with similarly shaped elements, enclosing a flower with a stem and leaves. A row of dots in relief extends near the edge. The pronounced relief of the glossy surfaces and, more generally, the varying height of the relief decoration create highlights and shadows, while the diagonal petals give the impression that they are swirling around the central rosette. At four points along the periphery, there are pairs of small holes, for securing the clasp to a belt.

Total length: 22cm. Diameter: 10 cm.

Former Collection of Pavlos Neophytou. Donation from the Association of Friends of the Leventis Museum.

C/1995/1167

Silver-plated copper buckle/clasp consisting of two similarly-decorated almond-shaped pieces and a round central element, affixed to the fastening loop. Floral and geometric designs cover the entire surface of both pieces. They include stems with spiral leaves and flowers, the most prominent of which is the poppy. Small lozenges and circles enclose the floral composition, also filling the empty spaces. An outer border, that again follows the almond-shaped contour of the clasp pieces, consists of a narrow band with finely engraved, oblique lines. The central element of the clasp is covered by a swirling rosette. All designs are rendered in repoussé, chasing, and engraving. On the reverse side of each clasp piece there are two vertical copper bars, for securing it to a belt.

Total length: 16.5 cm. Height: 6cm.

Acquired through purchase.

C/2003/0147

Silver buckle/clasp of two oval-shaped pieces with a scalloped outline, joined with a cast hook that passes through a corresponding loop. The outer end of each half has an additional element of an anthemion flanked by a foliate scroll motif, which extends roughly to the middle of the top and bottom sides, following their curvilinear contour. Floral designs, including garlands with leaves and flowers, also extend internally along the edge of each clasp piece, forming a wide band around the central motif, namely the winged lion of Venice, a symbol of Saint Mark. The front-facing animal has its wings open and one of its front legs raised. A rich mane, surrounded by a halo, frames its face, which is distinguished by its almost human features and especially the wide-open eyes. The tufted tail is turned upwards and the taloned toes are outspread. The ancient theme of the winged lion was revived and became particularly widespread during and after the period of Venetian rule. It remained popular in the Early Modern period, both in religious iconography and in various categories of folk art, especially in architectural stone carvings (e.g., in the carved plaque at the entrance of The House of Hadjigeorgakis Kornesios in Nicosia). The same motif is depicted on traditional silverware, for example in the centre of trays, but is rarely found on clasps. The lion’s front facing representation, with its piercing gaze directed towards the viewer, is reminiscent of the apotropaic heads/masks that are frequently encountered in clasps from Greece and its wider region (for the head as an apotropaic theme in modern Greek folk art, see Korre 1978). In this particular example, the high-relief decoration of the floral designs and the winged lion is worked in repoussé, with engraved and chased details. On the reverse side, there is a bar on each part of the clasp, for securing it to a belt.

Total length: 30 cm. Height: 10 cm.

Donation from the A.G. Leventis Foundation.

C/1989/175

Silver buckle/clasp of two wide almond-shaped pieces, joined with a cast hook and a corresponding loop. A vase with flowers decorates the metal surface at the inner side of each fastening element, and a foliate scroll motif in relief extends along the rest of the periphery, following the curved contour of each clasp piece. The rich floral decoration borders the central motif, which is a magnificently complex structure with columns and arches, rendered in high relief with engraved and chased details. On the reverse side, there are pairs of vertical bars, one narrow and one much wider with a wavy outline, for securing the clasp to a belt. The theme of buildings, churches, mosques and palaces is encountered in other examples of clasps that are likely Cypriot (for similar examples see: Papageorgiou 1995, 100, Collection of the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus, and Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 1996, 225, fig. 234, Collection of Pavlos Neophytou, Nicosia).

Total length: 30 cm. Height: 10.5 cm.

Donation from the A.G. Leventis Foundation.

C/2000/2189

Silver-plated copper buckle/clasp with a similar shape and decoration as clasp no. C/2000/2188. There is a notable difference in the rendering of particular design elements of the dragon (e.g. the wings), which appears less refined here and holds the flower upside down. There are no rosettes and the foliate scroll motif extends freely along the edge, not contained by an inner frame as is the case in example no. C/2000/2188. Along the decorated border, there are six pairs of small holes for securing the clasp to a belt. Both clasp pieces have upturned pointed edges. They are joined by a horizontally positioned hook on one side and a corresponding loop on the other. The loop is covered by a deep-red stone framed with cast anthemia, that are made of the same piece of metal as the hook and loop, and are soldered to the rim of the two clasp pieces.

The winged dragon is a favoured motif in clasps. The number of examples found in Cyprus, as well as the similarities in their technique and craftmanship, attest to their attribution to local workshops (similar samples can be seen in Pierides 1980, plate LVΙ:α, from the Collection of the Cyprus Museum, and Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 1996, 224, fig. 228-229 and 231, also 229, fig. 245, from the collections of the Cyprus American Archaeological Research Institute, Nicosia, the Holy Archdiocese of Cyprus, and Loukia Pieridou, respectively). The motif of the dragon is also encountered in clasps from Greece (see, for example, Korre–Zografou 2002. 375, fig. 9, 382, fig. 28).

Total length: 22 cm. Height: 9 cm.

Former Collection of Pavlos Neophytou. Donation from the Association of Friends of the Leventis Museum.

C/2000/2188

Copper buckle/clasp, double-plated in silver and gold. It consists of two almond-shaped convex elements with a wavy outline and with identical relief and engraved decoration. The central motif is the Persian winged dragon, holding a flower in the claw of its raised leg. Its coiled tail shapes into a flower at its tip, its body is covered with fine scales, and its tongue protrudes from its open mouth. There are two small six-leaf rosettes, one in front of the dragon and one below its body. The composition is bordered by a band of stylised floral designs. The clasp closes with a cast hook, which passes through a corresponding cast loop. When the clasp is closed, the two dragons face each other. On the reverse side, both clasp pieces have vertical bars, two and one respectively, for securing the clasp to a belt. The engraved initials and the abbreviation of a name are discernible on the bars of both pieces: Χ”ΙΩ ΣΦ'Α (Χ”IO SF’A), which can be completed as X”Iωάννου Σοφία (Χ”Ioannou Sofia).

Total length: 22 cm. Height: 9 cm.

Former Collection of Pavlos Neophytou.

C/2000/2187

Silver-plated copper buckle/clasp, composed of two almond-shaped pieces with identical relief and engraved decoration. A double-headed eagle with a stylised crown between its heads is depicted at the centre of each piece, while at the pointed edge there is a diagonally positioned flower with a stem and two pairs of leaves. A winding branch with smaller flowers extends along the border. The fastening elements of the clasp (hook and corresponding loop) extend into stylised anthemia, made of the same piece of metal and soldered to the clasp pieces. A red stone is set over the fastening loop.

The flowers consist of small discs in relief, while the eagle’s plumage is rendered with a scale pattern and delicate engravings. Along the border, there are six pairs of small holes for attachment to a belt. The double-headed eagle is often depicted on clasps, especially those used in an ecclesiastical context. This clasp appears to be of Cypriot origin (similar examples can be found in Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 1996, 224, fig. 230).

Total length: 19.2 cm. Height: 7.5 cm.

Former Collection of Pavlos Neophytou.

Inv. No. EA 1885: Silver-gilt earrings, of a solid cast heart and a hanging filigree drop with a tiny suspended toutouni (spherical filigree bead). The earrings are secured onto the ear by means of a wire hook fastening. The bottom of the hook is affixed to the lower end of the heart, while its opposite, bending end passes through the pierced ear lobe and locks into a small hole at the top of the heart. The filigree drop passes through the hook and hangs from the base of the fastening. Length: 5,7 cm. Published in: Hadjimichali 1983, 397m fig. 426; Ελληνικά Κοσμήματα (Greek Jewels) 1999, fig. 286.

This type of earrings is quite common, and there are many variants in terms of its upper element, which is often a tiny rosette (for similar examples see Pieridou 1980, table LIVb, d; Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 1996, 192-93).

Inv. No. EA 1884: Silver-gilt pendant comprising a chain of spherical filigree beads (toutounia), and a filigree cross. The boards of the cross consist of four drop-shaped elements, like those of the earrings Inv. No. EA 1885, soldered to a central rosette-shaped part, with a blue stone in the middle. Red beads are affixed at the angles between the drop-shaped elements, three of which have tiny wire beads hanging from their ends. The fourth element is connected, through a ring, to the chain, which consists of 19 toutounia alternating with coral-coloured beads. Dimensions of the cross: 7x6,5 cm. Length of chain: 32,5 cm. Publications: Hadjimichali 1983, 397, fig. 426. Ελληνικά Κοσμήματα (Greek Jewels) 1999, fig. 286.

The cross with the toutounia is one of the most characteristic types of traditional Cypriot jewellery. Several examples are preserved in museums and private collections (see i.e. Tarsouli 1955, table 19 opposite p. 216; Pieridou 1980, table LVd; Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou 1996, 199 figs. 183, 184 · The Cypriot Costumes 1999, 180 figs. 183b; Mazarakis-Ainian - Iakovou 1995, 26; Papademetriou 2000, 72).