PALYNOLOGICAL RESEARCH OF METAL ICONS PRESERVED AT THE GEORGIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM

NINO KEBULADZE; MAIA CHICHINADZE; NINO TABUTSADZE; MAMUKA QAPIANIDZE; ANA DVALI

NINO KEBULADZE Doctor of History, Head of Laboratory, Georgian National Museum, 3, Rustaveli Avenue, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1924-4203
MAIA CHICHINADZE PhD of Life Sciences, Georgian National Museum,3, Rustaveli Avenue, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3209-3654
NINO TABUTSADZE PhD (Doctoral) student, Tbilisi State University. Georgian National Museum,3, Rustaveli Avenue, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0009-0006-1827-8360
MAMUKA QAPIANIDZE Doctor of History, Georgian National Museum,3, Rustaveli Avenue, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0009-0009-9902-884X
ANA DVALI Master’s student, Sustainable Resource Management program at the Technical University of Munich. Georgian National Museum, 3, Rustaveli Avenue, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia http://orcid.org/0009-0004-0638-2115

Abstract

This publication presents an overview of unique medieval metal icons preserved at the Simon Janashia Museum of Georgia, a branch of the Georgian National Museum, and the results of palynological analysis conducted on organic materials found on them. The collection was obtained in 1945 during a comprehensive ethnographic expedition to the Gudamakari-Khando Gorge, led by Professor Giorgi Chitaia. The expedition was organized jointly by the Simon Janashia State Museum of Georgia and the Ivane Javakhishvili Institute of History and Ethnology. The icons were collected from the parish church of the village of Chartali and subsequently transferred to the museum. The collection comprises nine icons in total. All specimens are executed using metal relief (embossing) techniques. Textile fragments were discovered on two icons in the collection — the icon-banner of Saint George (known as “Saint George Slaying the Dragon”) and the icon of an unidentified apostle. These fragments were found between the silver plate and the wooden base. Additionally, wax residues were identified on the surfaces of several other icons, which were also subjected to palynological analysis. According to the results of the study — based on pollen characteristics, ecological data, and habitat specifics — it is possible to infer that the icons (including the icons of the Virgin Mary, the Deesis composition, Saint George, and the unidentified apostle) were originally located in diverse settings: forested areas, cultivated lands, and in proximity to rivers or lakes — all environments with high humidity. The palynological analysis of the textile samples from the icon-banner of Saint George and the icon of the unidentified apostle revealed that the fabric was composed of a blend of hemp (~65%), flax (~25%), and a small proportion of cotton fibers (~10%).

Keywords: Middle Ages; icons; gilded silver; palynology;textile.