Girdle
1710 (made), c. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This belt and clasp are characteristic of a type of costume ornament worn by the women of the Albanian community of Piana degli Albanesi, Sicily. The belt is known as a 'brezi', from the Albanian word 'brez', meaning 'race' or 'progeny', and the term refers to the function of the belt as a symbol of motherhood. A 'brezi' is an important element in the ritual leading up to marriage and subsequent motherhood, as the bride-to-be wears it as she displays her dowry. The clasp ('borchia') which fastens the belt is decorated with the image of the local patron saint, in this case St George.
The belt and clasp are traditionally the most important pieces of jewellery worn by the women of this community.
The belt and clasp are traditionally the most important pieces of jewellery worn by the women of this community.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Silver |
| Brief description | Silver, Sicily (Piana degli Albanesi), the belt stamped with Palermo assay officer's mark for 1710, the clasp c. 1750. |
| Physical description | Belt made of 13 cast square silver sections of open-work with a rayed sun in the centre of each section, joined with two cast silver links in the shape of flowers. The clasp of silver with a cast image of St George slaying the dragon beneath a canopy, cherubs either side of the saint. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Given by Mrs E. M. Richards |
| Object history | This belt was given to the V&A in 1949 by Mrs Euphrosyne M. Richards, née Whitaker. She presumably inherited it from her mother, the famous Sicilian collector Euphrosyne (Effie) Whitaker, née Manuel. It was recorded as owned by her when illustrated by the British Consul-General Sidney J.A. Churchill in a special issue of 'The Studio' devoted to Peasant Art in Italy in 1913. |
| Summary | This belt and clasp are characteristic of a type of costume ornament worn by the women of the Albanian community of Piana degli Albanesi, Sicily. The belt is known as a 'brezi', from the Albanian word 'brez', meaning 'race' or 'progeny', and the term refers to the function of the belt as a symbol of motherhood. A 'brezi' is an important element in the ritual leading up to marriage and subsequent motherhood, as the bride-to-be wears it as she displays her dowry. The clasp ('borchia') which fastens the belt is decorated with the image of the local patron saint, in this case St George. The belt and clasp are traditionally the most important pieces of jewellery worn by the women of this community. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.65:1&2-1949 |
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| Record created | August 1, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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