Українські прикраси / Ukrainian jewelry

The main element in any dukach is a medallion which was used to create the classical dukach we know today. The medallion was mainly of a round shape with a certain image on it – it was either carved, molded, engraved or decorated with designs, depending upon the technique used by the goldsmith. It was a common practice when the customer gave an already made medallion to the goldsmith and the master only had to add it to the composition and finish the brooch or certain elements on it. Sometimes in such cases men’s award medals served as the basis for a dukach and this fact is a bit not completely understood by the people nowadays. Examples of the traditional Ukrainian adornments from the exhibits of Yurii Kovalenko in Cherkasy Regional Museum of Local Lore (2017-2018)* * Example А – Prylutskii Dukach, ХІХ century, silver, glass. The medallion is a medal “As a Keepsake about the Patriotic War of 1812.” (“As a Keepsake about the Patriotic War of 1812.”), silver. The medal ca...

The main element of dukach is a medallion, which mainly contained an image and had a circular shape.  People used coins as medallions, mintings depicting the Queen, religious and even award medals, tokens.  There occurred dukaches which contained ancient coins and other “fossil” subjects. Dukach  "Horned" ( Cherkasy region ), medallion " the Queen". Dukach from the collection of Yurii Kovalenko    The reverse side of veremiivskiy dukach (Cherkasy region), medallion – the Russian  medal "For courage" (IV degree). Dukach from the collection of Yurii Kovalenko    It can be assumed that initially the main purpose for women was to hang up on the neck “something round”, which was not only to adorn its owner and to witness the level of prosperity in her house, but also to perform certain functions of a talisman. Eventually, under the influence of Christian traditions, dukach has partially lost the function of protection; however,...