Pair of Anklets
1859-1899 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These anklets, or khalkhal (khul khal), were made as decorative accessories for an urban Algerian woman. They are made of silver-gilt with applied panels of silver-gilt filigree partly enamelled and are hinged near the centre. The anklets can be opened by means of a chained pin at the front which can be removed.
The anklets bear a French silver standard mark suggesting they were made after the French occupation of Algeria, which began in 1830. The design of such anklets varied from city to city. The donor of this pair reported that these were made in El Golea, a town in central Algeria, but were acquired further north, in Ghardaïa.
The anklets bear a French silver standard mark suggesting they were made after the French occupation of Algeria, which began in 1830. The design of such anklets varied from city to city. The donor of this pair reported that these were made in El Golea, a town in central Algeria, but were acquired further north, in Ghardaïa.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver gilt with cloisonné enamel and red pastes |
| Brief description | Pair of heavy silver-gilt anklets (khalkhal) decorated with enamel and red pastes, Oran (Algeria), 1859-1899. |
| Physical description | Pair of heavy silver-gilt hinged anklets. Each anklet is made from two unequal parts, hinged together to form a thick band which widens to a heart shape at each end, with a pin fastening where the tips of the hearts meet. The pin is secured to the anklet by a figure-of-eight link chain. The whole outside of each anklet is covered with plaques which are nailed to the base. The plaques are decorated with blue and green filigree enamel and set with flat red pastes in closed settings. |
| Marks and inscriptions | Minerva’s head with the number 2 and the letter 'و', in a barrel-shaped frame. (On the outside of each part, on the plain vertical strip.)
|
| Credit line | Given by T.. B. Clarke-Thornhill |
| Object history | Accessions register entry - 'Pair of anklets. Silver-gilt, enriched with applied panels of silver-gilt filigree partly enamelled, and set with red pastes and rosettes. From El Golea, South Algeria (acquired at Ghardaia). French silver standard mark (from 1838). A broad tapering band, hinged near the centre, ends in two large heart-shaped plaques joined at their tips with a moveable pin secured by a chain. The filigree design is composed of symmetrical scrolls: the enamel colours are blue, green and yellow. Gift of T.B. Clarke-Thornhill, 3 Carlisle Place, Victoria Street, SW.' |
| Production | Made in El Golea, acquired in Ghardaïa. |
| Summary | These anklets, or khalkhal (khul khal), were made as decorative accessories for an urban Algerian woman. They are made of silver-gilt with applied panels of silver-gilt filigree partly enamelled and are hinged near the centre. The anklets can be opened by means of a chained pin at the front which can be removed. The anklets bear a French silver standard mark suggesting they were made after the French occupation of Algeria, which began in 1830. The design of such anklets varied from city to city. The donor of this pair reported that these were made in El Golea, a town in central Algeria, but were acquired further north, in Ghardaïa. |
| Bibliographic reference | For a similar example, see:
Eudel, Paul, 'Dictionnaire des bijoux de l'Afrique du Nord: Maroc, Algérie, Tunisie, Tripolitaine', Paris, 1906, p.190. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.131&A-1916 |
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| Record created | April 4, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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