fête du bijou kabyle "ath yenni"

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Comment by Chantal on August 8, 2012 at 0:19

Thanks Ait. Trip was good, lots of sunshine and swimming. A welcome change.

Shame I cant see the hybrid crosses very well! I have 3 now and will post one day.By the way the anklets look fabulous, quite old........is the man an antique dealer or a jeweller?  Do local people actually buy the old ones? and wear them?

Comment by ait ouakli on August 8, 2012 at 0:00

welcome back chantal. how was your trip  ?

here your hybride crosses, on the photo under the anklets.

there is 3 semilar pieces, arround 60 years old

Comment by Chantal on August 7, 2012 at 23:07

I love your videeo Ait. Very interesting. Good to know that local people are still interested in the traditional forms. I am sure they are quite expensive for all the reasons discussed. Are there any visitors/tourists interestred in purchasing pieces? is it publicised all over the country or more of a local affair? (nice music!).

Comment by ait ouakli on August 1, 2012 at 16:59

in the 80 th.some members of the algerian government got licences to collect caral. they sold their right to the Italians who came with big boots and were plundering until the population did demos and made troubles. they were detroying all the reefs and the flora underwater.

people dont like the china coral and the colored one in Algeria. the jung girls buy it because it is not expensive.

tthe smiths, take now small pieces of coral and the rest after cutting big coral pieces and work it with resine, personaly i dont like but it seems good working

here an example

Comment by Patricia Deany on August 1, 2012 at 15:38

I did not know that people were actually plundering the reef! I thought that there was so much of the older coral around that they could use that. Is there much use of the composite coral there, they seem to use it a lot in Morocco for newer pieces.

Comment by ait ouakli on August 1, 2012 at 15:33

it is since the time when Algeria was socialist. the cotrol on coral is for environmental raisons.

it almost discepear . if the illegal exploitation of coral will not stop, in few years, will be no coral reef at all.

Comment by Patricia Deany on August 1, 2012 at 15:20

Why does the government keep such a control over coral and silver? The are nice materials, but they don't seem essential to the running of a government.

Comment by ait ouakli on August 1, 2012 at 14:20

Patti and sarah ,  thank you. i knew that you will like it and for sure will help someone to understand more the kabyle jewelry.

in the beni yenni and some villages arround, there is averry good silversmith. they are stil working traditionaly and trying to give their best.

ofcourse, to survive, they ahve to do some sheap work. not everyone can efford the expensive pieces.

they sell in small stores they have, they take privat orders and make wholsale orders for stores owners. since the coral is difficult to find and strictly controled from the governement. the pieces with coral are difficult to get.

the gr price for this jewelry without coral or real amber is between 2,5 € and 3,5 € with coral and amber, starting 7 € and up.

who has time to stay arround and search, there is as everywhere in the world some pieces sold in flea markets for a good price. it is question of luck.

i know no seller or smith exporting. it is difficult in Algeria. Taxes and customers, also the prices make it not easy. sometimes, there is no silver for weeks, they have to buy it in the blackmarket 30 % more expensive than the regular price

Comment by Patricia Deany on August 1, 2012 at 13:56

I enjoyed this immensely, the new jewelry is quite lovely, is the back embellished with  enamel like the older examples? How much is it selling for in general and where are the best outlets for it? Is this jewelry exported to Europe? Thanks, Ait, so much fun to watch this!

Comment by SARAH CORBETT on August 1, 2012 at 11:51

fantastic!
thanks Ait

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