Plaque depicting bear heads

Vogul

Tobolsk Guberniya

IX – XII вв.

Decorations/jewelry

Metal

РЭМ 1710-470

Obviously, the plaque used to serve as a part of a belt buckle. It was kept in a sacred casket as an amulet. The plaque was cast in an open mold. The bear heads are vertical one above the other, shown in the “sacrificial” position, (head between the paws). The bears’ eyes are represented with semi-round cavities with a prominent pupil, and the ears, with convex welts. The animal’s claws are shown as narrow grooves.