ζώνη της Τσαρικής Ρωσίας - Ασημί, Δέρμα - Καύκασος - τέλος του 19ου αιώνα

19th Century, Tsarist Russia / Caucasus

This exceptional piece is an authentic, all-silver Caucasian women's belt. Set onto a leather backing are 81 individually mounted silver Russian Imperial coins (in 10, 20, and 25-kopeck denominations). The dates on the coins range from 1847 to 1869, indicating the belt was assembled from coins collected over a period of at least two decades — a practice frequently found in traditional Caucasian silverwork of the period.

Buckle and Craftsmanship
At the centre of the belt sits a large buckle skilfully worked in the niello technique on silver. The floral/foliate motifs are rendered in a striking black-and-silver contrast, achieved by pouring a special alloy — typically silver, copper, and lead — into engraved channels, then firing it before polishing the surface so the motifs appear dark against the bright silver ground. This technique is regarded as a hallmark of silversmiths from Dagestan (Kubachi), Georgia, and the wider Caucasus region, and was highly prized as a fine craft product in 18th- and 19th-century Tsarist Russia. The blue stone set at the centre of the buckle is a period-appropriate paste-glass setting.

Cultural Context
In Caucasian tradition, sewing silver coins onto a woman's belt was meant to wish the wearer wealth, fertility, and protection. Such belts were typically part of a dowry or family heirloom, passed down through generations and often added to over time as new coins became available — the wide date range on this example (1847–1869) is tangible evidence of that accumulating tradition.

Technical Details

• Number of coins: 81, all solid silver
• Date range: 1847 – 1869
• Total weight: 522 grams (all silver)
• Technique: Hand-worked niello, silver coins mounted on leather backing
• Origin: Caucasus, Tsarist Russian period
• Condition: Patina consistent with age, original and authentic

Surviving examples with this density of coinwork and niello detailing are quite rare, making this a distinctive piece for collectors and buyers with an interest in museum-grade Russian/Caucasian silverwork.