Afghan Poppy Earrings

Afghan Tribal "Poppy" Earrings Swat region,
North-Western Pakistan, mid 20th century
Silver, twisted wire, filigree, glass
handmade
Length - 70 mm
Total weight - 34 g.

The basis of this Jewelry - the highly stylized motif of the poppy boxes. Earrings with more or less pronounced Poppy fruit images very often among folk jewelry of the nomadic tribes Kuchi, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India. By-products of the opium poppy has been known since antiquity. Since the days of Ancient Egypt, the poppy and its derivatives used in medicine as anesthetics. Probably this plant, due to its strong impact on the human psyche is endowed with magical properties, what could explain the so often repeated motive. However, it remains a mystery why this motif is found in the decoration of the earrings and temple pendants.