THE UNIQUE EXHIBITION “DUKACHI (COIN-SHAPED PENDANTS) AND JEWELRY OF THE COSSACK EAST” OPENED IN ZAPORIZHZHIA

THE UNIQUE EXHIBITION “DUKACHI (COIN-SHAPED PENDANTS) AND JEWELRY OF THE COSSACK EAST” OPENED IN ZAPORIZHZHIA

On March 15, the collection of the historian-staurographer Viktor Veklenko, “Dukachi and jewelry of the Cossack East,” was presented in the Museum Studios “The City Beyond the Rapids” of Khortytsia National Reserve. The citizens of Zaporozhzhia were the first in Ukraine to get acquainted with the collection of ancient jewelry from Eastern Ukraine.

The entire exposition, which includes items from the 18th and early 20th centuries, is a wonderful and masterly illustration of the Ukrainian culture of the Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. It allows us to understand better the character and image of Ukrainians in these regions, especially Ukrainian women, since almost the entire jewelry collection is a story about her.

 The exhibition presents almost 390 dukaches, pendants, necklaces, medallions, and old photographs from the Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions. All jewelry is made of alloys of non-ferrous metals and silver using such techniques as casting, stamping, minting, pressing, soldering, cutting, gilding, etc. Viktor Veklenko, the author, says that his collection is a variety of Ukrainian (and not only) decorative and applied art and will be attractive not only to specialist ethnologists, cultural experts, and art critics but also to all lovers of beauty.

 Viktor Veklenko conducted a fascinating author’s tour for all present and answered questions from media representatives and fellow scientists.

 Viktor Veklenko is a well-known Ukrainian researcher, historian-staurographer, and founder and director of the only historical, ethnographic, and staurographic Museum of the Cross in Ukraine and Europe (Dnipropetrovsk region). From 2017 to 2021, the museum accumulated, preserved and popularized cultural heritage for more than ten years and successfully implemented almost 50 exhibitions dedicated to collections of body crosses.

The exhibition will be open from March 15 to April 28, 2024 in the Museum Studios “The City Beyond the Rapids” of the Khortytsia National Reserve in the center of Zaporizhzhia, Tsentralnyi Boulevard, 3 (“House of Shoes”, 2nd floor).

Working hours: Wednesday – Sunday from 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (except Monday and Tuesday). 

We invite residents of Zaporozhzhia and guests of our city to see this unique collection!