Collection of pendants in the Hermitage Museum

These adornments were worn in everyday life and are often frayed. Jewelry sets included large, teardrop-shaped bronze pendants-amulets, sometimes with animal images, framed by vegetal patterns. Less common were diamond-shaped and round pendants, decorated, as a rule, with engraved vegetal patterns. Lunula pendants, which were worn on the chest together with beads, were widespread. 

During the excavation of the Karakhanid layers, jet beads of different shapes were the commonest finds. Cornelian and glass beads were not so popular. In addition to metal adornments, there were diamond-shaped stone pendants imitating metal ones, decorated with circular ornament. Lapis lazuli pendants were used as front decorations. They were similar in shape to the pendants of Eastern European nomads. Round bone buttons decorated, as a rule, with geometric ornament, were used as fasteners.

You can learn more about the topic in the book-album "Jewelry of Uzbekistan in the World Collections" (XLV volume) from the series "Cultural Legacy of Uzbekistan in the World Collections".

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