Pair of Anklets
1860-1870 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Anklets, always worn in pairs, were part of the traditional dress of the nomadic Bedouin throughout the Syrian region in the 19th century. They were often very heavy, made of cast silver, and represented a major part of the wearer’s dowry. The name khulkhal is a generic Arabic name for anklets.
These, hollow and much lighter in weight, are similar to those worn on the Arabian peninsular. The tiny pellets inside them, which make a rattling sound as the wearer moves, were thought to have a protective function and to deter evil spirits. They were bought for four shillings and sixpence (the pair) at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, as an example of traditional Syrian jewellery.
These, hollow and much lighter in weight, are similar to those worn on the Arabian peninsular. The tiny pellets inside them, which make a rattling sound as the wearer moves, were thought to have a protective function and to deter evil spirits. They were bought for four shillings and sixpence (the pair) at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, as an example of traditional Syrian jewellery.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Silver-plated, repoussé |
| Brief description | Pair of hollow silver-plated anklets (Khulkhal) with repoussé decoration, Syria, 1860-1870. |
| Physical description | Pair of hollow silver-plated anklets. Each is decorated all over on the outside with a repousse diagonal pattern, broken at one point with two vertical lines outlined with strips of twisted wire. There are small pieces inside one of the anklets which make a rattling noise, but the other is damaged and the contents are missing. |
| Dimensions |
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| Summary | Anklets, always worn in pairs, were part of the traditional dress of the nomadic Bedouin throughout the Syrian region in the 19th century. They were often very heavy, made of cast silver, and represented a major part of the wearer’s dowry. The name khulkhal is a generic Arabic name for anklets. These, hollow and much lighter in weight, are similar to those worn on the Arabian peninsular. The tiny pellets inside them, which make a rattling sound as the wearer moves, were thought to have a protective function and to deter evil spirits. They were bought for four shillings and sixpence (the pair) at the International Exhibition, London, in 1872, as an example of traditional Syrian jewellery. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1538&A-1873 |
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| Record created | April 8, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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