Paaterripatsid: pärandtehnoloogiline vaatenurk / A Heritage Technology-based Perspective on Paternoster Pendants

Abstract

The article examines the Paternoster (Est. paater) pendant as an important type of jewellery in the history of Estonian peasant ornament. The study includes an analysis of Paternoster pendants from the collections of the Pärnu Museum and the Estonian National Museum, as well as three pater noster pendants from the University of Tartu’s archaeological collection. The persistence of a type of jewellery with Catholic origins in a Lutheran environment point to the rural population’s worldview, in which Christian symbolism, protective magic, and aesthetic values were intertwined, and jewellery possessed various layers of meaning. The Estonian term paater is derived from the Latin pater noster. In Estonian paater could refer to an elaborate necklace with many pendants, but also to one of its central pendants, in which case the central pendant would feature a cross or crucifix set within a ring.

The article presents a typological classification of Paternoster pendants and analyses the technologies and materials used. Attention is also paid to wear marks, subsequent repairs and the craftsman’s errors, which provide valuable information about both their historical use and the craftsman ship involved. These pendants are made from thin silver sheet reinforced by braided wire along the outer and inner edges of a circular plate. Artefact based examination, experimentation with traditional techniques, and XRF analysis of the three pendants made it possible to reconstruct the methods of craftsmanship and the use of materials. Techniques identified included sheet metal forging and annealing, engraving, casting of components, soldering, and various wire-working techniques. XRF analysis revealed a higher silver content than expected (78–89%), which points to their special value. The absence of maker’s marks makes dating and attribution difficult, although the technical complexity points to the work of professional goldsmiths.

Paternoster pendants fit in well with other examples of Estonian peasant jewellery in terms of their dimension, weight and visual impact. These were not merely religious objects, but rather part of a traditional set of jewellery. Studying Paternoster pendants broadens our understanding of the enduring nature of religious symbolism, the technological level of metalwork of the period, and aesthetic preferences within peasant culture.

Keywords: paater pendant, Paternoster pendant, peasant adornment, Christian jewellery, silver, heritage technology