Throughout the lands of the former Ottoman Empire, from the north Balkans to the Caucasus, large and elaborate waist clasps were the most important item in a woman’s dowry. These clasps come in a small number of basic shapes of which this one, shaped like a comma, is the most characteristic. The shape comes originally from India, and is variously described as a mango, almond, cone or Paisley pattern.

Cypriot clasps are part of the general Ottoman tradition, but are often more sophisticated and decorative than those from elsewhere. The goldsmiths of Cyprus were famous for their filigree, often enriched with coloured enamels, although they rarely marked their work.