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Comments
Such a lovely piece. The chains and charms gorgeous. Thank you for the background information as well.
I love these when they come with the big pennanular fibulas
Another great piece Edith
I'm curious.. does this peice polish like silver or is it meant to look like this surface when used and worn? The reason I'm asking is I'm curious about the surface is that coin silver is usually very good silver. meaning made from melted coinage correct? . If i were to see this myself I would think its' either not polished or not silver at all.. This is very interesting and I love the amulets.. For myself it bothers me though that the surface looks dull but that is my own taste,, do you not polish this? I'm wondering if it's meant to be like that as some pieces are worn with a kind of patina that is not polished in the original use of it and polishing would ruin the value. I'm interested in finding out about this. The clasps oddly enough look very much like things I have seen on Ottoman jewelry only gilt.
When I say "coin silver" it is only a medium grade...I am guessing a 60% silver. There is no hallmark on it, so not high grade. This is pretty typical for a lot of pieces coming from the villages. I think this piece probably came from someplace near Gabes. It is perhaps the lighting on my photo is not great, and I didn't polish it that highly, just cleaned it up a bit. I don't like getting polish stuck in all the little crevices (lots of them on this piece), and don't want to use anything too harsh on the metal.
I would not be surprised if the end piece designs were Ottoman...there are so many Ottoman influences in Tunisian jewelry.
I undertand better and many people hate that polishing creme. Do you have the rags? I use those mostly unless there is filigree and deep seeded black tarnish.. I love the rags ,, and they work very well, do a great job. When I do chains, I do them at once by grabbing with a rag and pulling towards me and over and over. it is quick to do this. When my things were displayed (now away ) I used to go around polishing as I watched tv while in bed, very theraputic. I have not done polishing in a while .... You also spend quality time with pieces noticing things while polishing,, thanks for your inpute about polishing.
....And just to prove that this form has been around a while, here is an ancient version.....
How lovely, I had missed this post before. It must be quite a heavy piece. ANd I love the dangly bits. Where is the ancient version from? Do you know how ancient?
Hi Cordelia: This piece apparently resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY (one of my favorite places!!!) Notes posted on line regarding this piece indicate that it is Phoenician from the Iberian Peninsula, 4th to 5th century BC. This is essentially the same culture as found today in what is now Tunisia, and was part of Carthaginian Empire (roughly 7th to 3rd century BC).
Gabès tunisie XIX è siècle: chaine de poitrine en argent