A new interpretation of prince Lazar’s “tipar” from the Rudnik mountain

Abstract

This paper offers a new interpretation of an object found on the Rudnik mountain in 2015. On its first public presentation, it was defined as a tipar (seal die) of the Serbian prince Lazar. However, a new reading of its inscription revealed a detail that demonstrates that it is not a seal die but an object with a different purpose. It is a mould (matrix) which would have been used for the fabrication of a medallion (plaquette) on the bottom of a goblet destined for the prince. This identification is also corroborated by examples of similar medallions known in the region of medieval Serbia and its surroundings. This find from the Rudnik mountain remains unique in our region while the new interpretation raises a series of questions about the development of artistic crafts and the fabrication of luxurious receptacles in medieval Serbia.