Torque
1800-1899 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The traditional jewellery of the Berber tribes of North Africa is almost always made of silver in heavy, clearly-defined shapes. Although individual pieces rarely date back any earlier than the 19th century, the designs are very old, and European observers liked to find traces of Roman or Phoenician influence.
This simple neck ring is one of the most characteristic pieces of jewellery traditionally worn by the women of Siwa oasis in the desert between Egypt and Libya. Young unmarried women hung from it a huge flat circular disc, called adrim, engraved with geometric patterns.
This simple neck ring is one of the most characteristic pieces of jewellery traditionally worn by the women of Siwa oasis in the desert between Egypt and Libya. Young unmarried women hung from it a huge flat circular disc, called adrim, engraved with geometric patterns.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | silver |
| Brief description | Silver torque necklace (Aghraw), with a simple loop and hook fastening, Siwa (Egypt), 1800-1899. |
| Physical description | Silver torque necklace, made from a hoop of thick silver wire bent into a hook at one end and a loop at the other. The end of wire used for the loop is wrapped several times round the end of the hoop. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Edmond Dresden |
| Object history | Accessions register entry: 'Neck-ring of low-grade silver. / a wire of circular section with a knobbed hook at one end, and at the other tapered and coiled on itself to form a loop. / North African / Diam. 6 7/8 in., thickness about 5/16 in.' |
| Production | Probably North Africa |
| Summary | The traditional jewellery of the Berber tribes of North Africa is almost always made of silver in heavy, clearly-defined shapes. Although individual pieces rarely date back any earlier than the 19th century, the designs are very old, and European observers liked to find traces of Roman or Phoenician influence. This simple neck ring is one of the most characteristic pieces of jewellery traditionally worn by the women of Siwa oasis in the desert between Egypt and Libya. Young unmarried women hung from it a huge flat circular disc, called adrim, engraved with geometric patterns. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 310-1904 |
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| Record created | April 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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