Penannular Brooch
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 penannular rings were originally part of a pair of fibulae, or ring brooches, of a kind that would have been very familiar to the Romans. They would originally have had a long pin attached loosely to the ring. After the Romans left North Africa ring brooches continued in use by women in all the countries of the Maghreb up to the mid 20th century. They were worn in pairs to fasten to fasten the woollen dress which was the main outer garment.
These penannular rings were originally part of a pair of fibulae, or ring brooches, of a kind that would have been very familiar to the Romans. They would originally have had a long pin attached loosely to the ring. After the Romans left North Africa ring brooches continued in use by women in all the countries of the Maghreb up to the mid 20th century. They were worn in pairs to fasten to fasten the woollen dress which was the main outer garment.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | silver |
| Brief description | Pair of silver penannular ring brooches missing their pins, North Africa, 1850-1899. |
| Physical description | Pair of penannular ring brooches which have lost their pins. Each consists of a hoop of thick silver wire with each end thickened into a solid rectangle. It is decorated all over with short sections of diagonal lines. Missing vertical pins - see 331&A-1904 for complete examples. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | Illegible mark in Arabic characters in rectangular frame. (On one side of each.)
|
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Edmond Dresden |
| Object history | Accessions register entry: 'Pair of Bracelets or probably brooches which have lost their pins, of silver, lightly chased. Each is stamped with an Arabic mark. / Penannular, with squared ends (monsters' heads). / North African / Each, diam. 2 3/4 in., thickness 3/16 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. These penannular rings were originally part of a pair of fibulae, or ring brooches, of a kind that would have been very familiar to the Romans. They would originally have had a long pin attached loosely to the ring. After the Romans left North Africa ring brooches continued in use by women in all the countries of the Maghreb up to the mid 20th century. They were worn in pairs to fasten to fasten the woollen dress which was the main outer garment. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 320&A-1904 |
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| Record created | April 2, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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