Trifonova, Alexandra Ph. An Unknown Belt Buckle (1732) of Hieromonk Isaiah from Ioannina from a Private Collection in Greece

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa2313-10-64
Title An Unknown Belt Buckle (1732) of Hieromonk Isaiah from Ioannina from a Private Collection in Greece
Author email altrifonova@yahoo.com
About author Trifonova, Alexandra Ph. — Ph. D., assistant professor. Sofia University “St Kliment Ohridski”, 18, Prof. Ivan Dujčev str., Sofia 1618, Bulgaria; assistant professor. University of Messina, Department of Ancient and Modern Civilizations, Viale Giovanni Palatuci 13, 98168 Messina, Italy; ORCID: 0000-0002-5221-6220
In the section Balkan Studies DOI10.18688/aa2313-10-64
Year 2023 Volume 13 Pages 819–829
Type of article RAR Index UDK 7.033.2(497) Index BBK 85.125
Abstract

The article presents an unknown belt buckle (22,5×9,5 cm) from a private collection in Attica, Greece. It is made of silver and copper alloy, gilded for the most part, and consists of three parts — a central oval shaped part with the New Testament Holy Trinity, and two side parts with the Annunciation, surrounded by two prophets, David and Solomon. The top side of the belt buckle bears a dedicatory inscription in Greek: ΔΙΑ CHΝΔΡΟΜΗC· ΕΜΟΥ · ΙCΑ/IΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΜΟΝΑΧΟΥ · ΤΟΥ / ΕΞ ΙΩΑΝΗΝΩΝ 1732 ΕΚΑΤΑC/ΚΙΑCΘI ΕΙC ΜΕΛΕΝHΚΟΝ (With the contribution of me, hieromonk Isaiah from Ioannina, 1732, made in Melenikon), whereas the back side bears another inscription: ΔΟΥΛΟC ΤΟΥ ΘΕΟY / ΔΝΜIΤΡΙΟC (Servant of God Dimitrios). The object belongs to the group of hieratical (ecclesiastical) belt buckles. It is a very interesting and important artifact for the study of post-Byzantine silverware production, because it bears the name of a person from the ecclesiastical circle, Hieromonk Isaiah of Ioannina, who commissioned it, the name of the town where the belt buckle was made, Melenikon (Melnik), and also the year in which it was made — 1732. Moreover, the belt buckle bears the name of the servant of God Demetrios, who probably was its maker or someone who owned it later. The form, as well as the depictions of the New Testament Holy Trinity and the Annunciation with the prophets David and Solomon, demonstrate some new stylistics trends and new subjects in decoration of hieratical belt buckles so far unknown.
Keywords
Reference Trifonova, Alexandra Ph. An Unknown Belt Buckle (1732) of Hieromonk Isaiah from Ioannina from a Private Collection in Greece. Actual Problems of Theory and History of Art: Collection of articles. Vol. 13. Eds A. V. Zakharova, S. V. Maltseva, E. Iu. Staniukovich-Denisova. — Lomonosov Moscow State University / St. Petersburg: NP-Print, 2023, pp. 819–829. ISSN 2312-2129. http://dx.doi.org/10.18688/aa2313-10-64
Publication Article language english
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