This study concerns glazed objects from two major centres in Silesia: Wrocław and Opole. All the glazed items from layers dated from the late 10th to the first half of the 13th century are appraised, i.e. ceramic and stone Easter eggs, knobbed rattles, ‘stars’ and pottery. Each category of artefacts is appraised separately as they differ from each other in terms of the production technique and presumably their provenance. Therefore, the locations of the workshops that produced these items is considered. Based on the collections from Wrocław and Opole, a different frequency of individual glazed items is observed, which is related to their specific distribution and most likely the different role of both centres. A separate issue is determining the value and social function of the glazed vessels, Easter eggs and rattles. In contrast, less emphasis is placed on their symbolic function, as this issue has been widely discussed by other researchers.
Transnationalism and diaspora are concepts that are often intertwined but nonetheless differ. This article examines the link between transnationalism and integration processes among return migrants from the Armenian diaspora and examines the role social networks play in integration in Armenia. Returnees to Armenia can be divided into those who have returned from the Armenian diaspora (second and subsequent generations of migrants) and those who emigrated from Armenia and decided to return. This is reflected in the literature as a distinction between the 'old' and the 'new' Armenian diaspora, the latter having emerged in the 1990s. Before returning, both groups maintained ties with people in Armenia and may differ only by the extent and frequency of use of these ties. These ties can then accompany them when they return to Armenia and help them to (re-)integrate. The integration of returnees has its own specifics, compared to the integration of migrants, and may not be as simple as it might seem. This article focuses on the transnational ties of 23 migrants of Armenian descent who returned to Armenia after a long time abroad and draws on original research on return migration in Armenia conducted in 2016 and 2018. Semi-structured interviews with returnees revealed that their participation in the labour market is instrumental to their integration into mainstream society, and their work may involve transnational activities. The article shows the different opportunities that weak and strong ties provide returnees and that may facilitate their integration. Weak ties on a local level are crucial for returnees to be able to reintegrate and fully participate in life in Armenia. The article aims to understand the return strategy as one of the migration options that may or may not be permanent. A return may be followed by re-migration, under certain conditions and if obstacles to sustainable reintegration, and the article also explores the motivations for re-migration.
Adventus of Francis I and Maria Theresa to Florence the capital of the grand duchy of Tuscany represents an event that should not be forgotten. A reference to this ceremonial entrance of the emperor that took place on January 20, 1739 is nowadays commemorated by the Arco di Trionfo in Florence, by the relief on sarcophagus of Maria Theresa and Francois I in Imperial Crypt in Vienna as well as in the preserved written records. Based on one of the period sources (Relazione Dell’ Ingresso fatto in Firenze Dalle Altezze Reali del Serenissimo Francesco III Duca di Lorena, e di Bar, ec. ec. Granduca di Toscana, E della Serenissima Maria Teresa, Arciduchessa d’ Austria, e Granduchessa di Toscana. Il dì 20. Gennaio 1738. ab Inc.), the course of the ceremonial entrance was reconstructed. Bearing in mind its author’s intention to provide an idealized record of the event aiming to glorify the new grand duke the text was subjected to collation with hard facts of the period to obtain a more realistic view of the event., Terezie Pilarová a Magdaléna Marjaková., and Obsahuje bibliografické odkazy