In the Middle Dnipro region (parts of Kyiv and Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Poltava, and Dnipro oblasts) and the Southern Black Sea region (Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Odesa oblasts), hollow or lace metal beads called “buttons” or “reefs” were added to coral beads. 

Up to 10 pieces of buttons were used for one necklace.

Metal beads like buttons (sometimes small in size) were also added to necklaces in the western part of Ukraine, in the Boikivshchyna, Lemkivshchyna, and Nadsyannya.

Zoriana Kuryliak

Project "Decorative metal: metal elements of traditional Ukrainian neck jewelry" is supported by the European Union under the House of Europe programme.