Traditional jewellery and dress from the Balkans

This display complements the silver jewellery from Oman on display in Room 2 by looking at European societies where dress and jewellery play a similar role, as indicators of identity and protection for the wearer.

The objects date from the late 19th and early 20th centuries and come from the countries of the former Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Albania and northern Greece.

Jewellery worn by rural, often wealthy, communities and was a crucial part of the lavish and complicated costumes worn as bridal outfits, for festive occasions, for dancing, and for daily wear. Balkan jewellery was made professionally in a small number of centres, resulting in a similarity of types and designs across the whole area: colossal clasps, head ornaments hung with clusters of rustling pendants, or chains strung with coins and pinned across the body, to mark rites of passage, protect from evil spirits and to create a jangling accompaniment to music when dancing.

By contrast, the textiles were made locally, varying distinctly from village to village, so that the wearer’s origin was immediately recognisable. The Balkan region is mountainous and, before the creation of roads, communications were extremely difficult. Settlements were isolated, encouraging the survival of traditional customs. One of the highlights of the display is a pair of complete early 20th-century wedding costumes with jewellery for a bridal couple from Galičnik, a village in the mountainous region of south-west Macedonia (the former Yugoslav Republic).

Photo:

Necklace, Bulgaria, late 19th or early 20th century. Given by Mercia MacDermott.