Anklet
1850-1899 (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.
These anklets are typical of those worn in the cities of Kairouan and Sfax. They are similar in size and design to the heavy solid silver anklets worn in the countryside, but these are hollow, and there is a closed rectangular box where the terminals of traditional penannular anklets would have been, showing that they were made for urban use. The name menfukh means full of air. The custom of wearing anklets, which was common throughout the Maghreb region, is probably African in origin.
These anklets are typical of those worn in the cities of Kairouan and Sfax. They are similar in size and design to the heavy solid silver anklets worn in the countryside, but these are hollow, and there is a closed rectangular box where the terminals of traditional penannular anklets would have been, showing that they were made for urban use. The name menfukh means full of air. The custom of wearing anklets, which was common throughout the Maghreb region, is probably African in origin.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Silver, repoussé and engraved |
| Brief description | Hollow silver anklet (khalkhal menfukh) with central rectangular section, Tunisia, 1850-1899. |
| Physical description | Silver anklet, consisting of a hollow ring with a rectangular section breaking into it in the centre. The ring and the outside of the rectangular section are decorated with repoussé flowers. On the back of the rectangular section a fish and a hand are engraved. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Arabic characters in a horizontal hexagonal frame. (Twice, on rim of each side .)
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Edmond Dresden |
| Object history | Accessions register entry: 'Anklet of chased silver, hollow. Mark, an Arabic character. / a portion is circular and of oval section, the rest forms an oblong case to hold an amulet. Chased with floral ornament, and the back of the amulet case with symbols. / North African / Diam. 4 3/4 in., W. 1 1/16 in. Fixed (no opening or hinge).' |
| Subject depicted | |
| 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. These anklets are typical of those worn in the cities of Kairouan and Sfax. They are similar in size and design to the heavy solid silver anklets worn in the countryside, but these are hollow, and there is a closed rectangular box where the terminals of traditional penannular anklets would have been, showing that they were made for urban use. The name menfukh means full of air. The custom of wearing anklets, which was common throughout the Maghreb region, is probably African in origin. |
| Bibliographic reference | For a similar example, see:
Eudel, Paul, 'Dictionnaire des bijoux de l'Afrique du Nord: Maroc, Algérie, Tunisie, Tripolitaine', Paris, 1906, p.101. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 312-1904 |
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| Record created | April 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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