Jbel Bani bracelets

This is the sort of pair that comes up rarely, even one is hard to find, let alone two! It is a combination of influences from across the Sahel - the Sahara desert regions. It is from the Harratine people, originally Sudanese slaves who formed their own communities in the 18th and 19th centuries in Morocco, eventually merging with Berber culture and considering themselves a Berber people.The bracelets reflect ties with the Moorish nomads in that they are like the mizam, those knobbly silver bracelets - seen both in my shop and in the extraordinary book Africa Adorned (which I urge anyone interested in the adornments of Africa to buy).The pair are beautifully made from a community that was extremely poor. It would have been a very special piece and it would have been filled with dark scented date paste.The spikes resting in the floral motifs are fertility indicators, the spikes being male elements and the floral female.Lovely patina of age. Early 20th Cweight 110 grams each

Comments

zhanna grace townend November 16, 2016 at 10:03am

hello again Cordelia, crumbs! such incredible pieces, stunning to be precise, I have known of the Harratine from Angela's seminal masterpiece for over two decades, particularly colourful & beautifully adorned, making one want to cast aside all western conservatism & drape oneself in jewels of all kinds colourful garments, that main photo is etched in my mind I have gazed on it so many times....thank you for showing these lovely bracelets, kind regards, zhanna
Cordelia Donohoe November 16, 2016 at 10:04am

Yes, thank you, they are! Ive tried to friend you on here and it wont let me message you until you agree, all best C
Peter Hoesli November 19, 2016 at 10:22am

They are indeed stunning Cordelia! Thanks for posting! Peter

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Jbel Bani bracelets

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