Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Velestino Hoard pp 183–196Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Function: Dies or Models?

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 147 Accesses

Part of the book series: New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture ((NABHC))

Abstract

Long believed to be dies, the Velestino plaques most likely had a different (production) role. They are similar in at least one respect with contemporaneous artefacts made of lead: they all have a flat backside. As such, those artefacts have been interpreted as models for casting. A lead model was necessary for obtaining the mother-mould, which was created when the model was pressed into a piece of soft, damp clay. When the clay dried, the open section of the mother-mould was filled with molten wax. Once hardened, the wax model was taken out of the mother-mould, packed in clay, and baked at a high temperature. The result was a clay mould, into which the molten metal was poured to burn out the wax and to produce the final cast. The final cast was thus a duplicate of the original lead model. The resulting casts may have been cast appliques meant to decorate shields or furniture, such as chests, armoires or beds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aibabin, Aleksandr I. “O proizvodstve poiasnykh naborov v rannesrednevekovom Khersone.” Sovetskaia Arkheologiia (1982), no. 3, 190–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Appelgren-Kivalo, Hjalmar Otto. “Osnovnyia cherty skitho-permskago ornamental’nago stilia.” In Trudy XV arkheologicheskago săezda v Novgorod, 1911, edited by Praskov’ia S. Uvarova, 481–92. Moscow: Tipografiia G. Lissener i D. Sobko, 1914.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbiera, Irene. Changing Lands in Changing Memories: Migration and Identity During the Lombard Invasions. Florence: All’Insegna del Giglio, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bitenc, Polona, and Knific, Timotej. Od Rimljanov do Slovanov. Predmeti. Ljubljana: Narodni Muzej Slovenije, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buškariol, Frane. “Jos o rovašenim fibulama ostrogota i tirinžana povodom rijetkog tirinškog nalaza u Saloni.” Vjesnik za arheologiju i historiju Dalmatinsku 81 (1988), 47–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cecchèlli, Carlo. “Arte paleoslava.” Memorie storiche forogiuliesi 40 (1953), 189–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chausidis, Nikos. “Poganska religija Slavena u svjetlu ranosrednjovjekovnih materialnih nalaza s područja Balkana.” Histria Antiqua 15 (2005a), 437–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. “Ranosrednovekovnata bronzena raka od Romanija i nejzinite relacii so slovenskite paganski tradicii.” Studia mythologica Slavica 6 (2005b), 37–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. “Zooantropomorfnye mifologicheskii personazh s rukami v viden zhivotnykh.” In Gibridnye formy v slavianskikh kul’turakh. Sbornik statei, edited N. V. Eldyneva, 75–93. Moscow: Institut slavianovedeniia RAN, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curta, Florin. The Edinburgh History of the Greeks, c. 500 to 1050: The Early Middle Ages. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. “The beginning of the Middle Ages in the Balkans.” Millennium 10 (2013), 145–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daskalov, Metodi. Kolani i kolanni ukrasi ot VI–VII vek (ot dneshna Bălgariia i săsednite zemi). Sofia: Craft House, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daskalov, Metodi, and Dimitrov, Dimităr I. “Za proizvodstvoto na nakiti prez VI–VII v. v bălgarskite zemi.” Arkheologiia 42 (2001), nos. 3–4, 69–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donnert, Erich. “Das Heidentum der Slawen in der schriftlichen Überlieferung der fränkischen Frühzeit im 7. und 8. Jh.” Slavica Gandensia 7–8 (1980–1981), 31–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dumanov, Boian. “The late antique workshops of jewellry south of the Lower Danube. Direct and indirect evidence of local production.” In The Lower Danube Roman Limes (1st–6th c. AD), edited by Liudmil Vagalinski, Nikolai Sharankov, and Sergei Torbatov, 405–28. Sofia: National Archaeological Institute and Museum, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egor’kov, Aleksandr N., and Shcheglova, Ol’ga A. “Metal iz Kozievki/Novoi Odessy.” In Slaviano-russkoe iuvelirnoe delo i ego istoki. Mezhdunarodnaia nauchnaia konferenciia, posviashchennaia 100-letiiu so dnia rozhdeniia Gali Fedorovny Korzukhinoi. Tezisy dokladov, edited by Anna A. Peskova and Ol’ga A. Shcheglova, 21–4. St. Petersburg: “Nestor-Istoriia,” 2006.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garam, Éva. “Avar temetők Andocson.” Folia Archaeologica 23 (1972), 129–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gauthier, Marie-Madeleine, Elisabeth Antoine, and Danielle Gaborit-Chopin, eds. L’apogée, 1190–1215 (Corpus des émaux méridionaux, 2). Paris: Editions du Louvre, 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giostra, Caterina. “Gli scudi da parata da Lucca (Italia) e Stabio (Svizzera).” In Roma e i barbari. La nascita di un nuovo mondo, edited by Jean-Jacques Aillagon, 394–97. Milan: Skira, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorodcov, V. A. “Arkheologicheskiia izsledovaniia v okrestnostiakh g. Muroma v 1910 godu.” Drevnosti Trudy Moskavskogo Arkheologicheskago Obshchestva 24 (1914), 40–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gough, Michael. “The monastery of Eski Gümüş—second preliminary report.” Anatolian Studies 15 (1965), 157–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich-Tamáska, Orsolya. “Avar-age metalworking technologies in the Carpathian Basin (sixth to eighth century).” In The Other Europe in the Middle Ages: Avars, Bulgars, Khazars, and Cumans, edited by Florin Curta, 237–61 (East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 2). Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hidalgo Prieto, Rafael. “Casting mould relief of armed horseman from Córdoba.” Gladius 32 (2012), 69–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ignat’eva, Oksana. “Termin ‘Permskii zverinyi stil’’ v istoriograficheskom aspekte.” Finno-Ugrica 10 (2007), 99–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iotov, Valeri. “Bronzova matrica za aplikacii ot kăsnoantichnata krepost do s. Onogur, Dobrichko.” Arkheologiia 39 (1998), 72–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kharalambieva, Anna. “Production of dress ornaments in the fortresses and small settlements in north Bulgaria during the period from the 5th till the 7th century AD.” In The Roman and Late Roman City: The International Conference (Veliko Turnovo 26–30 July 2000), edited by Liudmila Ruseva-Slokoska, Rumen Teofil Ivanov, and Vencislav Dinchev, 393–97. Sofia: Akademichno izdatelstvo “Prof. Marin Drinov,” 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khudiakov, M. G. “K voprosu o permskom zverinom stile.” Sbornik gosudarstvennoi Akademii Istorii Material’noi Kul’tury 8 (1931), 15–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kidd, Dafydd. “The Velestínon (Thessaly) hoard—a footnote.” In Awarenforschungen, edited by Falko Daim, 509–15. Vienna: Institut für Ur- und Frühgeschichte der Universität Wien, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kóčka-Krenz, Hanna. Złotnictwo skandynawskie IX–XI wieku. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu im. Adama Mickiewicza, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korzukhina, Galina F. “Klady i sluchainye nakhodki veshchei kruga ‘drevnostei antov’ v srednem Podneprov’e. Katalog pamiatnikov.” Materialy po arkheologii, istorii i etnografii Tavrii 5 (1996), 352–435 and 586–705.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovrig, Ilona. Das awarenzeitliche Gräberfeld von Alattyán (Archaeologia Hungarica, 40). Budapest: Akadémiai kiadó, 1963.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kozlov, Sergei A. “‘Rosskie’ ekskursy L’va Diakona i tradicii voinskikh soobshchestv v slavianskom mire.” Vizantiiskii Vremennik 74 (2015), 102–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marinas, Enrique Santos. “Reassessment, unification, and enlargement of the sources of Slavic pre-Christian religion.” Russian History 40 (2013), no. 1, 27–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marušić, Branko. “Ranosrednjovjekovna nekropola na Vrhu kod Brkača.” Histria Archaeologica 10 (1979), no. 2, 111–49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nidzel’nickaia, L. Iu., and Il’iashenko, S. M. “Rannesrednevekovye poselenie na territorii Tanaisa.” In Srednevekovye drevnosti Dona. Sbornik statei, edited by Iurii K. Guguev, 193–214 (Materialy i issledovaniia po arkheologii Dona, 2). Moscow/Jerusalem: Mosty kul’tury/Gesharim, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oborin, Vladimir A. Drevnee iskusstvo narodov Prikam’ia. Permskii zverinyi stil’. Perm: Permskoe knizhnoe izdatel’stvo, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parani, Maria. “Medieval Byzantine furniture.” In Discipuli dona ferentes: Glimpses of Byzantium in Honor of Marlia Mundell Mango, edited by Tassos Papacostas and Maria Parani, 181–221 (Byzantios, 11). Turnhout: Brepols, 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pletn’ov, Valentin. “Matrica za kolanni aplikacii ot Severoiztochna Bălgariia.” Epokhi 3–4 (1995), 133–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polák, Václav. “Slovanské náboženství.” Vznik a počátky Slovanů 1 (1956), 119–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rácz, Zsófia. “Emberalakos kistárgyak az avar korból.” In Thesaurus avarorum. Régészeti tanulmányok Garam Éva tiszteletére, edited by Tivadar Vida, 409–36. Budapest: Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. Die Goldschmiedegräber der Awarenzeit. Mainz: Verlag des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums, 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rašković, Dušan. “Rimsko naselje Praesidium Pompei-Rimljani u Aleksinačkoj kotlini.” In Nish i Vizantija, V. Simpozijum, Nish 3–5. iuni 2006. Zbornik radova, edited by Miša Rakocija, 205–26. Niš: NKC, 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rife, Joseph L. The Roman and Byzantine Graves and Human Remains (Isthmia, 9). Princeton: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shablavina, Ekaterina A. “Pal’chataia fibula iz kollekcii E. A. Goriunova.” In Kul’turnye transformacii i vzaimovliianiia v Dneprovskom regione na iskhode rimskogo vremeni i v rannem Srednevekov’e. Doklady nauchnoi konferencii, posviashchennoi 60-letiiu so dnia rozhdeniia E.A. Goriunova (Sankt-Peterburg, 14–17 noiabria 2000 g.), edited by Valentina M. Goriunova and Ol’ga A. Shcheglova, 244–53. St. Petersburg: Peterburgskoe vostokovedenie, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shablavina, Ekaterina A., and Szmoniewski, Bartłomiej Szymon. “The forming model of the Kertch type finger-shaped fibula.” Sprawozdania Archeologiczne 58 (2006), 519–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shcheglova, Ol’ga A. “Taina ‘pliashushchikh chelovechkov’ i ‘sledy nevidannykh zverei’. Antropo- i zoomorfnye izobrazheniia v ranneslavianskoi metalloplastike.” In Slaviano-russkoe iuvelirnoe delo i ego istoki. Materialy Mezhdunarodnoi nauchnoi konferencii posviashchennoi 100-letiiu so dnia rozhdeniia Gali Fedorovny Korzukhinoi. Sankt-Peterburg, 10–16 aprelia 2006 g., edited by Anna A. Peskova, Ol’ga A. Shcheglova, and Aleksandr E. Musin, 146–71 and 593–94. St. Petersburg: Nestor-Istoriia, 2010a.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. “Eshche raz o funkciiakh ‘martynovskikh figurok.” In Kraeugol’nyi kamen’. Arkheologiia, istoriia, iskusstvo, kul’tura Rossii i sopredel’nykh stran. 80-letiiu so dnia rozhdeniia Anatoliia Nikolaevicha Kirpichnikova posviashchaetsia, edited by Evgenii N. Nosov and Sergei V. Beleckii, vol. 2, 520–39. Moscow: Lomonosov, 2010b.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shitov, V. N. “Raboty Shokshinskoi ekspedicii v 1991–1992 gg.” In Arkheologicheskie otkrytiia Urala i Povolzh’ia. Sbornik statei, edited by V. V. Nikitin, 162–64. Ioshkar-Ola: Mariiskii gosudarstvennyi universitet, 1994.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szmoniewski, Bartłomiej Szymon. “Cultural contacts in Central and Eastern Europe: What do metal beast images speak about?” In Ethnic Contacts and Cultural Exchanges North and West of the Black Sea from the Greek Colonization to the Ottoman Conquest, edited by Victor Cojocaru, 425–42. Iaşi: Trinitas, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. “Two worlds, one hoard: What do metal finds from the forest-steppe belt speak about?” In The Other Europe in the Middle Ages: Avars, Bulgars, Khazars, and Cumans, edited by Florin Curta, 263–96 (East Central and Eastern Europe in the Middle Ages, 2). Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tănase, Daniela. Prelucrarea metalelor în lumea barbară la Dunărea mijlocie și inferioară în secolele VI–VII. Timișoara: Excelsior Art, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Téra, Michal. “Archaic Slavic religion.” In Great Moravia and the Beginnings of Christianity, edited by Pavel Kouřil, 42–8. Brno: Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolstoi, Nikita I. “Iazychestvo drevnikh slavian.” In Ocherki istorii kul’tury slavian, edited by V. K. Volkov, Vladimir Ia. Petrukhin, Aleksandr I. Rogov, S. M. Tolstaia, and Boris N. Flor’ia, 145–60. Moscow: Indrik, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Váňa, Zdeněk. Svět slovanských bohů a démonů. Prague: Panorama, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vavák, Július. “Včasnostredoveké osídlenie v Pezinku.” Zborník Slovenského Národného Múzea 104 (2010), 99–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vignier, Charles. “L’aventureux art scythe.” Aréthuse 2 (1925), no. 4, 56–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitlianov, Stoian. “Bronzovi modeli-matrici za kolanni ukrasi ot Preslav.” Preslav. Sbornik 4 (1993), 166–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wamers, Egon. “Neu erworbene Bleimodelle im Frankfurter Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte.” Hammaburg 12 (1998), 89–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, Joachim. Slawische Bronzefiguren aus Nordgriechenland. Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 1953.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Florin Curta

  2. Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland

    Bartłomiej Szymon Szmoniewski

Authors
  1. Florin Curta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bartłomiej Szymon Szmoniewski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Curta, F., Szmoniewski, B.S. (2019). Function: Dies or Models?. In: The Velestino Hoard. New Approaches to Byzantine History and Culture. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04846-4_8

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04846-4_8

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-04845-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-04846-4

  • eBook Packages: HistoryHistory (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation