Earrings

Earrings enjoy a prominent place among works of medieval Russian jewellery. They were produced in large quantities in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, explaining the eminence of earring manufacturers among silversmiths. Earrings were traditionally worn by both women and men. Men wore one earring, while women wore two. Almost all earrings had thick wire lobes in the form of an unjoined ring. Not all of the earrings were worn in the ears; some were attached to the headwear. Russian earrings were diverse in form, style, decoration and manufacturing technique. Earrings were often endowed to churches, where they hung from the crown on icons of the Virgin Mary.