A torc is an ornament in the form of a neck ring, known since the Bronze Age. At different times and among different nations, torcs were made of bronze, copper, iron, alloys of tin or billon (silver and copper), silver or gold (gold jewelry is mentioned in written sources), and decorated with modeling or engraving.
In the 10th–11th centuries in Rus, such necklaces were badges of honor and served as a reward for druzhinniki. From the 12th century, they were worn by both men and women as an indispensable attribute of wedding ceremonies. Later, the ornament was exclusively worn by women and enjoyed great popularity among the Dolgans up to the early 20th century.
The neck ring was thought to offer protection against evil spirits, which were believed to enter a person through the exposed parts of the body. The design demonstrated the status and wealth of the owner.
In terms of manufacture, torcs were divided into sheet and wire ones. The former, especially widespread in the 11th–12th centuries, were made of a hollow or flattened plate bent into a wide ring. The technology of the latter ones was more varied. A metal wire was twisted, thus creating an intricate pattern. The section of the wire could be circular, rhombic, triangular or of a more complicated shape. Several wires could be twisted into a “bundle” or remain in the original form with its distinctive cut and be decorated with notches or openwork. In all variations, the construction of the torc remained rigid and, as a rule, did not have a clasp, but was simply compressed to the required diameter so that the ends overlapped one another.
Torcs were worn over a festive dress or coat.
This piece of jewelry (one of the two on display) is part of a Dolgan woman’s festive attire. It is made of crown silver 500 produced in Yakutia and embellished with embossing.
This is an intricate two-piece neck and back ornament. The neck ring is decorated with a Yakut ornament. On the back side, two trapezoidal openwork plates are attached to the ring with leather straps, and each plate has three chains with nine links. These are further fastened together by a one-piece carved plate, from which run new chains of nine links. Five pendants are attached to the latter. On the chest, a rectangular-shaped carved plate is attached to the ring on thin strips. On the top there is an oval cut-out along the oval of the ring. Eight chains with pendants of nine links moveably crossed to each other are suspended from the plate. The pendants and chain links have more openwork than the dorsal ones.
In the 10th–11th centuries in Rus, such necklaces were badges of honor and served as a reward for druzhinniki. From the 12th century, they were worn by both men and women as an indispensable attribute of wedding ceremonies. Later, the ornament was exclusively worn by women and enjoyed great popularity among the Dolgans up to the early 20th century.
The neck ring was thought to offer protection against evil spirits, which were believed to enter a person through the exposed parts of the body. The design demonstrated the status and wealth of the owner.
In terms of manufacture, torcs were divided into sheet and wire ones. The former, especially widespread in the 11th–12th centuries, were made of a hollow or flattened plate bent into a wide ring. The technology of the latter ones was more varied. A metal wire was twisted, thus creating an intricate pattern. The section of the wire could be circular, rhombic, triangular or of a more complicated shape. Several wires could be twisted into a “bundle” or remain in the original form with its distinctive cut and be decorated with notches or openwork. In all variations, the construction of the torc remained rigid and, as a rule, did not have a clasp, but was simply compressed to the required diameter so that the ends overlapped one another.
Torcs were worn over a festive dress or coat.
This piece of jewelry (one of the two on display) is part of a Dolgan woman’s festive attire. It is made of crown silver 500 produced in Yakutia and embellished with embossing.
This is an intricate two-piece neck and back ornament. The neck ring is decorated with a Yakut ornament. On the back side, two trapezoidal openwork plates are attached to the ring with leather straps, and each plate has three chains with nine links. These are further fastened together by a one-piece carved plate, from which run new chains of nine links. Five pendants are attached to the latter. On the chest, a rectangular-shaped carved plate is attached to the ring on thin strips. On the top there is an oval cut-out along the oval of the ring. Eight chains with pendants of nine links moveably crossed to each other are suspended from the plate. The pendants and chain links have more openwork than the dorsal ones.
