Earring
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.
Earrings in the 19th century were particularly large, and are sometimes mistaken for bangles today. The decorative bead in the centre would have made it very uncomfortable to wear these on the wrist, and the hook fastening is the kind which was always used for earrings, not bangles.
They were probably made in Egypt. Egypt was the main production centre for jewellery for use by the nomadic tribes of the region, who obtained all their jewellery from specialist urban silversmiths.
Earrings in the 19th century were particularly large, and are sometimes mistaken for bangles today. The decorative bead in the centre would have made it very uncomfortable to wear these on the wrist, and the hook fastening is the kind which was always used for earrings, not bangles.
They were probably made in Egypt. Egypt was the main production centre for jewellery for use by the nomadic tribes of the region, who obtained all their jewellery from specialist urban silversmiths.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver filigree |
| Brief description | Pair of silver hoop earrings with a large filigree bead and triangles made from rings, Egypt, 1800-1899. |
| Physical description | Pair of earrings, each consisting of a hoop of thick silver wire with one end twisted to form a hook and the other a loop. The lower portion of the hoop, just behind the loop, is decorated with a large oval bead of coarse filigree threaded on the hoop, with the short length of hoop on either side of it wrapped in finer wire to hold it in place. There is a small triangle, made from six rings soldered together, attached to the bottom of the bead, with a loop at either side. There is a matching triangle attached to the lower edge of each of the bands of wire wrapped round the hoop. The side of the hoop, just above the last section of wrapped wire, is decorated with a strip of twisted and beaded wire. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Edmond Dresden |
| Object history | Accessions register entry: 'Pair of earrings of silver. / a ring of stout wire carrying a cylindrical ornament of coarse filigree to which are soldered three triangles each of six flat wire rings. The ring fastens with a hook and loop. / North African / Each, diam. 4 1/8 in., thickness 5/32 in.' |
| 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. Earrings in the 19th century were particularly large, and are sometimes mistaken for bangles today. The decorative bead in the centre would have made it very uncomfortable to wear these on the wrist, and the hook fastening is the kind which was always used for earrings, not bangles. They were probably made in Egypt. Egypt was the main production centre for jewellery for use by the nomadic tribes of the region, who obtained all their jewellery from specialist urban silversmiths. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 303&A-1904 |
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| Record created | April 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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