One of a Pair of Temple Pendants, with Confronted Birds (front) and Human Heads (back)

Unknown

11th–12th century · Cloisonné enamel, electrum, pearls · Medieval Art

When Kyivan Rus, a powerful new state to the north of the Byzantine Empire, accepted Christianity as its official religion in 988, the aristocracy also adopted the manners and dress of the Byzantine court. Local artists soon produced their own versions of Constatinopolitan fashions. This temple pendant of precious metals worked in cloisonné enamel or niello are local variants of the more intricately detailed works made for the Byzantine court. As in Byzantium, temple pendants may have been worn next to the face by both the men and the women of Rus. The works shown here were perhaps buried by their owners when the Mongol armies under Batu Khan sacked Kyiv in 1240.

Artist

Unknown

Date

11th–12th century

Medium

Cloisonné enamel, electrum, pearls

Culture

Kyivan Rus’

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917