Torque
Torque
1839-1869 (made)
1839-1869 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places.
This torque, described as a ‘Tok’, was acquired in Cairo before 1869, and carries Egyptian silver marks from the mid-19th century. It was described as ‘modern Egyptian’, when acquired but was probably made for women of the Siwa oasis, in the desert between Egypt and Libya. The jewellery of Siwa is different from that worn elsewhere in Egypt, and huge torques, like this, are one of the most characteristic items. The word ‘Tok’ simply means torque in Arabic, but the word ‘Aghraw’ is Berber in origin and specific to the torques of Siwa.
This torque, described as a ‘Tok’, was acquired in Cairo before 1869, and carries Egyptian silver marks from the mid-19th century. It was described as ‘modern Egyptian’, when acquired but was probably made for women of the Siwa oasis, in the desert between Egypt and Libya. The jewellery of Siwa is different from that worn elsewhere in Egypt, and huge torques, like this, are one of the most characteristic items. The word ‘Tok’ simply means torque in Arabic, but the word ‘Aghraw’ is Berber in origin and specific to the torques of Siwa.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Torque |
| Materials and techniques | silver |
| Brief description | Large heavy silver torque (Aghraw) with a loop and hook fastening, and three stamped marks, Siwa (Egypt), 1839-1869. |
| Physical description | Silver torque, made from a hoop of thick silver wire bent into a hook at one end and a loop at the other. The end of wire used for the loop is wrapped several times round the end of the hoop. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Summary | A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places. This torque, described as a ‘Tok’, was acquired in Cairo before 1869, and carries Egyptian silver marks from the mid-19th century. It was described as ‘modern Egyptian’, when acquired but was probably made for women of the Siwa oasis, in the desert between Egypt and Libya. The jewellery of Siwa is different from that worn elsewhere in Egypt, and huge torques, like this, are one of the most characteristic items. The word ‘Tok’ simply means torque in Arabic, but the word ‘Aghraw’ is Berber in origin and specific to the torques of Siwa. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1103-1869 |
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| Record created | April 8, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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