Ind. No. 113:Chaimali, a rectangular amulet case of copper alloy, accompanied by a chain for hanging on the chest. The case closes with a sliding lid at the top. On one side, it is decorated with floral designs, of which some protrude in high relief, while others are engraved in the background. The composition is placed in a frame of small dots in relief. Again inside a frame, the other side depicts stellar patterns and a rosette surrounded by circles in the middle. This amulet case, with its non-figurative decoration, is likely to have belonged to a Muslim.
19th century.
Dimensions: 7 x 9 x 1.5 cm.
3D object:
3D object
Translator:
Euphrosyne Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou
Petroula Hadjittofi
Author:
Euphrosyne Rizopoulou-Egoumenidou
Description:
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).
