Demydiv (Molotiv) Treasure
Explore a collection of exquisite silver jewelry and coins dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
Among the various attractions of the Lviv Historical Museum deserves attention is a unique hoard of silverware, found in a small pot in 1896 on a new cemetery near Demydiv village, formerly situated on the outskirts of Molotiv village (Zhydachiv Raion, Lviv Oblast): a single wristband, four spiral bracelets, four temple rings and six signet rings - all is the last of the 13th - first half of the 14th century.
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The exposition of the Archeology Department of Lviv Historical Museum retells the history of Ukraine beginning with the most ancient times till the IX century.
The department is located in the architectural monument of the late 16th century Massari House (24 Rynok sq.).
Demydiv (Molotiv) Treasure
The unique hoard of silverware, found in a small pot in 1896 on a new cemetery near Demydiv village, formerly situated on the outskirts of Molotiv village (Zhydachiv Raion, Lviv Oblast): a single wristband, four spiral bracelets, four temple rings and six signet rings. Found alongside them were sixty-five Czech coins, with three of them minted during the reign of Waclaw II (1278-1305), while other fifty-six belong to the time of Jan I of Luxemburg (1310-1346). Three coins remain unidentified. They give us a reason to attribute this treasure to the first half of the 14th century. The coins are currently located in Lviv National Museum, while the jewelry was given to Lviv Historical Museum by the Museum of Stauropegion in 1940.
Bracelets
The collection features five silver Bracelets
Wrist bracelet (obverse) (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
The wrist bracelet consists of two halves connected with corrugated joints. On the edges there is a border of two parallel harnesses. Between the harnesses and arches there are stamped “pearls”. On the side arches there are side-view images of birds, while the central ones depict the “tree of life” and a man wearing sharp-headed hat and a short dress, holding a spear or a staff in his right hand and an unknown object under the left hand.
Wrist bracelet (reverse) (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
Each half is divided into three parts with columns made with coiled wire rods supporting arches made the same way (some rods are missing). There had been several rings attached to the arch junction, of which only two remain.
Silver Bracelet (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
The bracelet was forged from the plate twisted into a spiral in one and a half turn. The tips are gradually narrowed and twisted into a tube.
Silver Bracelet (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
The bracelet was forged from the plate twisted into a spiral in two and a half turns. The tips are narrowed and twisted in a tube.
Silver Bracelet (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
The bracelet was forged from the plate twisted into a spiral in more than two turns. One tip is broken, the other one ends.
Silver Bracelet (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
The bracelet was forged from the plate twisted into a spiral in two turns. The tips are gradually narrowed, ending in an S-like shape, one of them is broken, although preserved.
Rings
The collection features six silver Rings
Silver Ring (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
The ring is interwoven with four twisted wires with open, lamellar, rounded contiguous ends.
Silver Ring (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
A ring with flat rim, ornamented with two engraved straight lines. The ring cast consists of four rounded legs. Inlet piece is lost.
Silver Ring (top view) (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
The ring bears an image of a bird in its center, facing left and standing with raised wings (each wing is outlined with a single line). On the edge of the seal there is a Cyrillic inscription "ПЕЧАТ+ВАНОВА", which is red from left to right, giving reflected image in the mirror.
Silver Ring (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
The ring is carved from silver plate with an oval shield on which a cross is outlined using bluing technique. Side segments are filled with short engraved lines without niello.
Silver Ring (top view) (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
In the centre of the ring, there is an image of a dancing bird facing left, its wings raised. The bird is framed with two thin rings and an inscription between them, resembling Glagolitic alphabet.
Silver Ring (top view) (First half of the 14th century)Lviv Historical Museum
In the centre of the ring there is an image of a bird with a crooked beak. The image is framed with a wide engraved line bearing a Cyrillic inscription "ПЕЧАТ+СКОЧКОВА" on the edge.
Silver Temple ring (13th – 14th cc.)Lviv Historical Museum
Temple Rings
The collection features four silver Temple Rings
Temple ring with three beads, its (circular) frame made of thick wire, bent twice and interwoven with thin filigree wire, one tip of which forms a loop, while the second one is broken. Hollow biconical beads are decorated with minuscule granulation on the rings and fixed on a rod with multiple layers of coiled thin wire.
Silver Temple ring (13th – 14th cc.)Lviv Historical Museum
Temple ring with a round-shaped frame. One tip is rolled in a tube, while the other one is riveted and has a hole in it.
Silver Temple ring (13th – 14th cc.)Lviv Historical Museum
Temple ring with a circular frame. Three beads are round and hollow, decorated with granulated balls on rings. In between the balls there are three thin filigree spiral wires.
Silver Temple ring (13th – 14th cc.)Lviv Historical Museum
Temple ring with three beads; its circular frame is made with thick, double-bent wire interlaced with thinner twisted wires. One of its tips forms a loop, the other one is broken.
Creator: Lviv Historical Museum marketing manager Ruslan Koshiv.
Thanks for: Chief of the Archeology Department of Lviv Historical Museum Emiliya Zarubiy (texts), Zinoviy Pidperyhora (photo), Roman Herynovych (photo), Andrew Poznakhivsky (translation)
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