Ring Brooch
1850-1900 (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.
The use of ring brooches to fasten women’s traditional clothing is universal across the region and dates back to late Roman times. Most of these brooches are penannular in shape, with all the decoration lavished on the head of the pin, but true ring brooches, like this example, survived in a few places, mainly in Algeria, up to the end of the 19th century.
Circular ring brooches were used singly, in the centre of the forehead or on the chest, unlike the penannular brooches, which were always worn in pairs to hold the dress together. The word medouar means ‘round’ in Arabic.
The use of ring brooches to fasten women’s traditional clothing is universal across the region and dates back to late Roman times. Most of these brooches are penannular in shape, with all the decoration lavished on the head of the pin, but true ring brooches, like this example, survived in a few places, mainly in Algeria, up to the end of the 19th century.
Circular ring brooches were used singly, in the centre of the forehead or on the chest, unlike the penannular brooches, which were always worn in pairs to hold the dress together. The word medouar means ‘round’ in Arabic.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved sheet silver |
| Brief description | Sheet silver ring brooch (Medouar) shaped like a star, Algeria, 1850-1900. |
| Physical description | Flat silver ring brooch shaped like a star with eight tabs of irregular size round its edge. It is decorated on the front with simple engraved patterns. The tang is made from plain silver wire hooked into a hole at the side of the central space. |
| Dimensions |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Edmond Dresden |
| Object history | Accessions register entry: 'Brooch of silver, chased. / a plate roughly cut into the form of a star with eight blunt projections, chased with line ornament. The pin crosses the central opening. / North African (?) / Diam. 1 7/8 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. The use of ring brooches to fasten women’s traditional clothing is universal across the region and dates back to late Roman times. Most of these brooches are penannular in shape, with all the decoration lavished on the head of the pin, but true ring brooches, like this example, survived in a few places, mainly in Algeria, up to the end of the 19th century. Circular ring brooches were used singly, in the centre of the forehead or on the chest, unlike the penannular brooches, which were always worn in pairs to hold the dress together. The word medouar means ‘round’ in Arabic. |
| Bibliographic reference | For examples, see Eudel, Paul, 'Dictionnaire des bijoux de l'Afrique du Nord: Maroc, Algérie, Tunisie, Tripolitaine', Paris, 1906, p.133. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 342-1904 |
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| Record created | April 8, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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