A few observations on the adornments and dress accessories found in the hoard from Țifești (Vrancea County)

Abstract

Found by chance in 1912, the hoard from Țifești (in the former Putna County) immediately came to the attention of numismatists. First published in 1915 by Constantin Moisil, it remained in oblivion for a long time, at most barely mentioned in various articles. The beginning of the First World War and the entry of Romania in the middle of these events had, as a consequence, the evacuation of the country’s treasure to Russia. After arriving in Moscow, it was returned to the Romanian state in 1956. The coins of the treasure came from both the Ottoman Empire and Hungary. The Turkish coins (the akçe) were issued during the reigns of Sultans Mehmed the Conqueror (1451 – 1481) and Bayezid II (1481 – 1512). The coins issued in Hungary are from the time of kings Matthias Corvinus (1459 – 1490) and Vladislaus II (1490 – 1516). So far, they have not yet been published in full. The buttons (seven) are manufactured of filigree silver wire wrapped in the shape of a ball. The other two items, manufactured of foil, are dress accessories rather common in the Middle Ages, widely circulated both chronologically and territorially. There are also parts of buttons which are not mentioned in the article published in 1916. The adornments consist of two pairs of silver earrings manufactured in the filigree and granulation techniques. In the case of the items from Țifești, they are dated to the second half of the 15th century.