Dukach, dukat (from the name of the ducat coin), lychman, yagnus, panagiyka — Ukrainian traditional female chest metal ornament. The main element of decoration is a medallion, which, as a rule, was supplemented with additional jewelry elements such as bows, casts, etc. Round-shaped coins, tokens, Western European table religious medals, military awards, tokens, etc. were used as medallions in dukachs.
History
Some researchers assume that dukachi are the remnants of serpents, the wearing of which was widespread in the days of Kyivan Rus. The word "dukach" was formed from "dukatus". This was the name given to the gold coin in Venice in the 16th and 17th centuries, which eventually became a reference coin. For many centuries, the ducat managed to maintain an approximately constant weight (3.5 g) and metal proof (938) and began to be perceived as an international gold coin standard. Dukachi were mostly made from coins of the Russian and Austrian empires. Handicrafts of a religious nature were less common. Coin jewelry was worn over a necklace, often handed down as an inheritance.
Dukachi were made by village craftsmen from two coins - one as a medallion, and the other was processed into a bow. Goldsmiths added their chains, stones, beads and other decorations to the decoration.
Dukachi with modest bows or no bows at all were common in the western Ukrainian lands. On the Left Bank, Chernihiv region, Slobozhan region, including Voronezh region and Kursk region (ethnic Ukrainian territories), dukachi with lush bows, richly decorated with stones, were common. In the 19th - at the beginning of the 20th century, women's jewelry of very different material and artistic value was called dukachem - from rough, but painstakingly made, to a factory-stamped plaque. Accordingly, in some areas of Ukraine at the beginning of the 20th century. dukachi remained a festive decoration, while in others they were worn every day by both adults and children.
Approximately from the second half of the 19th century, dukachi, as an element of material culture, began to degenerate in most of the territory of Ukraine. From the beginning of the 20th century, only one dukach is known, dedicated to the centenary of the publication of the "Aeneid" by Ivan Petrovich Kotlyarevskyi. On its front side was the inscription: "August 30 1903 - Ivan Kotlyarevskyi" and the image of the artist's bust portrait three-quarters to the right. On the back is the inscription: "100th anniversary of Aeneid - Poltava." This dukach was stamped on golden brass, had a frame made of a wire spring and a bow.
The most complete collections of dukachs are kept in the Hermitage and the Russian Museum in Leningrad, in the Historical Museum in Moscow, the Chernihiv Historical Museum, the Kyiv Historical Museum, and the Poltava Museum of Local Lore.
Varieties
Dukachi with a medallion in the shape of a heart was called yagnuska. Wearing our heart-shaped necklaces was borrowed from Western Europe and, in particular, from the Catholic cult of the heart. At first, such dukachi were popular in the western Ukrainian lands, but on the horse. beginning of the 19th 20th century yakushki could be found mainly in Slobozhanshchyna. This can be explained by the fact that the bulk of immigrants to Slobozhanshchyna came from Right Bank, Central Left Bank, and Cherkasy.
Dukachis with a medallion in the form of a small icon (panagiyka) were called panagiekas. Various biblical scenes could be depicted on the decoration: the creation of Eve, the Fall, the expulsion from Paradise, the sacrifice of Abraham, the vision of Jacob, Moses in front of the bush, the betrothal of Anna, the Annunciation, the Trinity, Christmas, Resurrection, the Virgin, etc.
There are Chernihiv, Veremiiv, horned, Kyiv, Luben, Nizhyn, Voronezh, Kursk, Volyn and other dukachi. These names come from the name of the regions where they were distributed or manufactured or from the features of their shape.
History
Some researchers assume that dukachi are the remnants of serpents, the wearing of which was widespread in the days of Kyivan Rus. The word "dukach" was formed from "dukatus". This was the name given to the gold coin in Venice in the 16th and 17th centuries, which eventually became a reference coin. For many centuries, the ducat managed to maintain an approximately constant weight (3.5 g) and metal proof (938) and began to be perceived as an international gold coin standard. Dukachi were mostly made from coins of the Russian and Austrian empires. Handicrafts of a religious nature were less common. Coin jewelry was worn over a necklace, often handed down as an inheritance.
Dukachi were made by village craftsmen from two coins - one as a medallion, and the other was processed into a bow. Goldsmiths added their chains, stones, beads and other decorations to the decoration.
Dukachi with modest bows or no bows at all were common in the western Ukrainian lands. On the Left Bank, Chernihiv region, Slobozhan region, including Voronezh region and Kursk region (ethnic Ukrainian territories), dukachi with lush bows, richly decorated with stones, were common. In the 19th - at the beginning of the 20th century, women's jewelry of very different material and artistic value was called dukachem - from rough, but painstakingly made, to a factory-stamped plaque. Accordingly, in some areas of Ukraine at the beginning of the 20th century. dukachi remained a festive decoration, while in others they were worn every day by both adults and children.
Approximately from the second half of the 19th century, dukachi, as an element of material culture, began to degenerate in most of the territory of Ukraine. From the beginning of the 20th century, only one dukach is known, dedicated to the centenary of the publication of the "Aeneid" by Ivan Petrovich Kotlyarevskyi. On its front side was the inscription: "August 30 1903 - Ivan Kotlyarevskyi" and the image of the artist's bust portrait three-quarters to the right. On the back is the inscription: "100th anniversary of Aeneid - Poltava." This dukach was stamped on golden brass, had a frame made of a wire spring and a bow.
The most complete collections of dukachs are kept in the Hermitage and the Russian Museum in Leningrad, in the Historical Museum in Moscow, the Chernihiv Historical Museum, the Kyiv Historical Museum, and the Poltava Museum of Local Lore.
Varieties
Dukachi with a medallion in the shape of a heart was called yagnuska. Wearing our heart-shaped necklaces was borrowed from Western Europe and, in particular, from the Catholic cult of the heart. At first, such dukachi were popular in the western Ukrainian lands, but on the horse. beginning of the 19th 20th century yakushki could be found mainly in Slobozhanshchyna. This can be explained by the fact that the bulk of immigrants to Slobozhanshchyna came from Right Bank, Central Left Bank, and Cherkasy.
Dukachis with a medallion in the form of a small icon (panagiyka) were called panagiekas. Various biblical scenes could be depicted on the decoration: the creation of Eve, the Fall, the expulsion from Paradise, the sacrifice of Abraham, the vision of Jacob, Moses in front of the bush, the betrothal of Anna, the Annunciation, the Trinity, Christmas, Resurrection, the Virgin, etc.
There are Chernihiv, Veremiiv, horned, Kyiv, Luben, Nizhyn, Voronezh, Kursk, Volyn and other dukachi. These names come from the name of the regions where they were distributed or manufactured or from the features of their shape.
