poukla

Ind. no. 108: Silver filigree poukla (buckle, clasp). It consists of three tulip-shaped elements, of which the central, vertically arranged one is the most prominent. All three are made entirely with openwork filigree, contained in curvilinear frames of beaded wire. The decoration is completed with four stones in closed settings. Two round plates and five chains are suspended from the side elements of the clasp. The chains hang from two rings, one at each side element, and extend across the bottom of the clasp. On the back, there are vertical bars for attaching the clasp to a belt, as well as a pin fastener. The fastener connects with one of the round plates, which bears an impressed mark of the Ottoman tuğra, namely the seal of the Ottoman sultan.

This clasp is among the most elaborate examples (a similar clasp of the 19th century is depicted in Magda Ohnefalsch-Richter (1913) 1994, pl. 76:1).

It belonged to the family of Georgios Sivitanides in Limassol.

Dimensions: Total length: 17.5 cm. Max. Height: 8.5 cm.   

Ind. no. 104: Silver poukla (buckle, clasp). It consists of two identical, circular elements with a narrow, scalloped rim of sheet silver that extends to a slightly protruding point at the outer extreme of each element, opposite the closure. The clasp closes with a cast hook attached to the rim of one piece and a corresponding loop attached to the rim of the other piece. Besides the rim and the closure, the clasp is entirely constructed of trifouri (openwork filigree), with applied decoration of small triangles and squares that form rosettes. At the back side of each piece, there are two vertical bars for attaching the clasp to a belt. The date 1867 is engraved on one of the bars. Similar clasps are preserved in Cyprus (see Pierides 1980, pl. LVI:b), yet identical clasps are also found elsewhere, for example in the Dodecanese (see Papamanoli 1986, image 16, from the island of Kos).

Dimensions: Diameter of the circular parts: 7.4 and 7 cm.