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A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

Christian Orthodox Silver Votive Offering Plate

Posted by Peter Hoesli on June 18, 2016 at 1:26pm
This hand is stamped with the makers mark and "84" for silver content. It furthermore features the letters "Nu.Ab.". The hand is about 18cm long.Votive Offering Plates are among the most interesting works of Christian Orthodox Ritual Art. Made by goldsmith on order, those silver plates come in different shapes and represent the sick organ of the human body, e.g. a leg, arm or eye, or a full human figure; a domestic animal, e.g. a horse, sheep, or a composition of yoked oxen. They were given to the church or hung before a particular icon with a wish for the curing of the disease and for the welfare of the children, grown-ups and the whole farm. Votive plates were be-lieved to answer prayers for the gift-maker's health. The images depicted on them are far from the Christian symbols but they unambiguously demonstrate the inter-twining of Christian and pagan notions and beliefs in the folk worldview.
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