Jewels

An old Berber chiseled silver pendant from the Draa Valley in the Eastern Anti Atlas in Southern Morocco. beautiful decoration. A serie of small chains decorated with glass beads and Moroccan silveer coins hang from the bottom of the pendant. This kind of ornament would usually hang from a fibula and would be filled with a piece of wool soaked in perfume or some other aromatic substance. This ornament can also be found in the area of Essaouria and among the Zaïane. First half of the XXth century.

An old Berber silver and enamel egg bead (taguemout) sourced in Ida ou Semlal in the Western Anti Atlas in Southern Morocco. It is enamelled in green, yellow and red. Small pendants or coins would hang from it. It was probably part of a necklace or a focal point on a set of fibulae. This is a distinctive ornament of the region of Tiznit/Issafen. Among the Berber the egg is a symbol of fertility, as a life comes from it, as well as of eternity. Circa first half of the XXth century.

An original old silver bangle from the Sahara Desert in Algeria deep south. Silver sheet with silver applique decoration. Great patina after years of intensive use. Mid-XXth century or earlier.

A lovely Hazara silver, turquoise and coral hinged bracelet from Afghanistan or Northern Pakistan. The design of this piece is particularly lively. It features a very nice silverwork and it is crammed full with turquoise cabochons and a focal central coral one. Its design bears some Uzbeki reminiscences. It fastens with a sliding pin. Mid-XXth century.

An elegant Afghani silver bracelet of a Sindhi origin. Its simple decoration and shape give it superb balance and make its design timeless. Its clasp with a sliding pin is also very original and simple. Slightly restored. Very appealing patina. Mid-Xxth century or earlier.

An old silver cuff from the Kuchi from Afghanistan though it shows Turkoman influences. Very nice chiselling and silver appliqu

A superb old silver hollow anklet from India worn by the women of the Bhil group in the state of Rajasthan. Simply beautiful.

An exquisite old silver anklet from Balouchistan. Wonderful chiselling work. This kind of anklets may also be found in the Sultanate of Oman which evidences the intensive trade links between the two regions in the past. Very nice patina. Mid-XXth century.

A great Turkoman Tekke old fire gilded silver and glass cabochons cuff from Afghanistan. Fire gilding is applied to make a nice pattern on incised silver. The red color of the cabochons would have a protective effect on the wearer and would provide strength. The claw-like prongs are very distinctive of these pieces. Not adjustable. Other names: -bilezik. First half of the XXth century.

A lovely pair of old Berber silver filigree fibulae sourced at the small village of Tikirt in Jbel Siroua. This type of work though may come from further south in the area of Foum Zguid. This pair features a great filigree work and shows some traces of enamel. They would have been connected by a chain and used as breats ornament to hold in place robes such as handiras, haïks or capes. Early XXth century. 

An outstanding silver flared bracelet from Tiznit in South Morocco. The quality of the workmanship is remarkable and shows a great silver chiselling, granulation and enamel work. A piece to show.

A superb Berber old temple ornament -chuafa- from the area of Foum Zguid in the Jbel Bani oasis at the foot of the Central Anti Atlas mountain range. This curious ornament is usually worn attached to a cloth band at the level of one of the temples. It features a serie of beads threaded in a semi-arch over a very characteristic round piece, in reference, it seems, to the path of the sum from dawn to sunset. Mid-XXth century.

A superb old solid silver torc from the region of the Gilgit iriver in Pakistan. Superb chasing work. A very attractive and original piece.

A superb old pair of Tuareg aluminium anklets or -khulkhal- from Mauritania. A rare sample that shows an intricate and beautiful engraving work with protective designs for the wearer. Certainly the work of a master silversmith. Other names: -kholkhal-, -khalkhal-, -khelkhal-, -natal-. Early to mid-XXth century.

An old pair of Berber silver fibulae from Taliouine in the Anti Atlas in Southern Morocco made with two scarce and very much sought after Moroccan silver ten Dirham coins of the reign of Yusuf minted between 1331-1336 (A. D. 1913-1918). Other names: -khelâla-, khelalât-. Circa first quarter of the XXth century.

A great Bedouin silver molded bracelet with granulation work from Yemen. This very characteristic design may be also found in some areas of Southeastern Saudi Arabia. A heavy bracelet with a wonderful patina. Early XXth century.

beautiful old Kuchi silver and glass bracelet. This piece is a beautiful sample of jewellery from that ethnic group. It is made of silver, glass cabochons and little bells. The words -zul fekhar-, a man's name, are engraved inside and that is probably the name of the artisan that made it or of the person who commissioned it. Please ask about availability of its matching pair. Mid-XXth century.

A beautiful Kuchi hinged silver cuff from Afghanistan or Northern Pakistan. It shows a beautiful engraved decoration and the silverwork at top and bottom sides is full of character. Its closes with a sliding pin.The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pashtoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and, to a lesser extent, Pakistan. Their jewellery is quite often very colourful using silver, glass and, in some fewer cases, enamel. First half of the XXth century.

A most original African old armlet or bracelet. The core of it is made of a hard and well smoothed piece of wood. On it a great number of small glass beads have been arranged showing superb skill and highest aesthetic sense. In some areas a layer of an ochre paste has been applied which reinforces its character and original design. As to its attribution we would favour Cameroon, Burkina Faso or the kuba from Zaire or Congo. It is certainly an eye-catching piece.

A very old set of Moroccan Berber fibulae sourced at the village of Tissent in central Anti-Atlas. They are made of silver sheet on bronze and red glass cabouchons. They also seem to have some traces of niello left. Very nice engraving decoration. The central cabochon serve as eyes that ward evil off and protect the wearer. They probably come from the tribes Ida ou Nadif or Ida ou Zekri. Mid- to late XIXth century.

An elegant old silver kuchi torc or choker. This torc shows a great smithwork with thick silver wire, a nice incised decoration and two red coral cabochons. It was probably made in the region of Nuristan in Northern Afghanistan close to the Pakistani border. Superb patina. The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pastoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mid-XXth century.

Antique ornaments from the Katawaz basin in the Afghan-Pakistani border. An ornament of the muslim population of the region. They are worn as a headdress hanging at each side of the head since their size and weight do not allow them to be used as earrings. The bottom part represents a basket from which a tree grows due to the warmth from the sun. They are made of gilded silver, textile and they feature a central turquoise cabochon. Their patina is excellent. This piece is certainly a piece of conversation. Other names: -Muchley pendants-, -Sun earrings-. Late XIXth century.

A beautiful old Kuchi silver anklet. This sample of plain silver shows a great workmanship and a precise and detailed chiselling work. Its shape also reminds of those anklets found in the city of Orissa in the state of Bengal in India. It has a very attractive patina. An outstanding example of this sort of pieces of jewellery of a Kuchi origin. The Kuchi people, from the Persian -koch- meaning migration, are Afghan pastoons nomads divided in a number of tribes that inhabit areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Early XXth century.

A superb Berber old open flared bracelet from Morocco. It shows a wonderful patina. It keeps traces of nielloed decoration. Its features suggest that it comes from the Central Anti Atlas in Morocco. In principle this bracelet would have been worn by the younger daughters of the family. Other names: -azebj-. Second half od the XIXth century.