Necklace
1850-1899 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This was described as a child’s neck-ring when it was acquired by the Museum in 1904, and that is probably what it is. Children were often dressed with silver jewellery in North Africa, because it was thought that it would help to protect them from the physical and spiritual dangers to which they were considered particularly susceptible. The crescent shape of this pendant, representing the moon, was thought to be a powerful amulet.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Torque necklace of thin silver wire with a crescent pendant, North Africa, 1850-1899. |
| Physical description | Neck ring of thin silver wire with the ends wrapped round to form a hook and loop. There is a small crescent-shaped pendant, made from sheet silver with three applied granule rosettes, hanging from the wire. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Edmond Dresden |
| Object history | Accessions register entry: 'Child's Neck-ring of silver, hung with a pendant. / A wire ring twisted at the ends into a loop and hook. The pendant is flat, horseshoe-shaped, with three applied rosettes. / North African / Diam. 3 7/8 in., thickness 1/8 in. Thin wire hoop with upside-down horseshoe pendant.' |
| Summary | This was described as a child’s neck-ring when it was acquired by the Museum in 1904, and that is probably what it is. Children were often dressed with silver jewellery in North Africa, because it was thought that it would help to protect them from the physical and spiritual dangers to which they were considered particularly susceptible. The crescent shape of this pendant, representing the moon, was thought to be a powerful amulet. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 367-1904 |
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| Record created | April 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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