Antique Moroccan enameled silver fibulas

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Antique Moroccan enameled silver fibulas

Posted by Alaa eddine SAGID on March 7, 2016 at 8:01pm

Antique enameled silver fibulas from South Morocco. . The fibulas are made following an antique technique consisting of soldering, inside a silver barettes triangular frame, hundreds of tiny silver rings with the result of the surface appearing all holed hence the local name of "Tizerzai n'touwoukka" or "Wormhole fibulas".This technique was already lost by late 19th century, it was too expensive and time consuming for local smiths. This example comes with the very rare feature of being enameled with a light blue and vivid yellow enamel which would place them at the eastern most side of the western anti atlas mountains. Fibulas are locally used to pic large wooven garments or coats and would be placed either on the shoulders or chest

Comments

Thelma March 9, 2016 at 4:58pm

Alaa, these are superb. The enamel looks so intact ... do you think it is the original? Some of the best I have seen.
Alaa eddine SAGID March 9, 2016 at 10:22pm

Thanx thelma.

This is exactely why i bought them, in addition to the enamel colors which are rarer than the more common green and orange, this pair have more enameled surface than most and it is quite well preserved with minor losses. i took a bad picture after i cleaned the first one to compared it with the uncleaned one which would have that layer of verdigris consecutiv of decades of storage in a damp box

But i would not rule out completely a "rearrangement" of the fibula by additing enamel BUT if it happened than it was a long long ago and masterfully executed. i am not aware of any silversmith no or in the last 50 to 80 years who would have been able to do such a change without harming the integrity of the wormholed surface
Ꮙℓἇ∂ἇ ኔጡ። March 11, 2016 at 3:39am

I couldn't envisage the weight on the ears with these,but they are just amazing and as you say so much work involved & has gone into creating them, gees such a wonderful purchase,I'm just learning about these precious items..

Photos

Antique Moroccan enameled silver fibulas

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