I'd like to offer some photos of pieces that are a bit of a mystery to me. I have an idea of their origins, but would like further information that anyone has to offer. Thank you!
I too have a bracelet like yours. I acquired mine from a silversmith with a shop on the exterior of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbbul, Turkey. My subsequent research has revealed that the original function for the object was that of a rattle, to be fastened around the ankle of a small child. As you well know, the bells are very noisy. That noise made it very easy for the mother, or nurse maid, to know the whereabouts of the child.
As to the necklace, the fillagree of the dangles looks Libyan. Saad Al-Jadir, in his book Arab & Islamic Silver identifies pieces with this type of fillagree as being from Libya. Such pieces are also popular across the border in Tunisia, where they are often collected, and misidentified as being Tunisian.
I believe the necklace to be from Syria or Turkey. The bell bracelet is very small and the work mimics many styles from Yemen to Central Asia. All parts of the bracelet are soldered with no alterations or additions visible. I believe that this bell bracelet may also have been used as an anklet. I decided this when I put it on my daughter's ankle when she began walking. I used it for quite a while as it let me know where she was in the house. Bells also ward off evil spirits in many cultures.
Replies
Hello Hillary,
I too have a bracelet like yours. I acquired mine from a silversmith with a shop on the exterior of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbbul, Turkey. My subsequent research has revealed that the original function for the object was that of a rattle, to be fastened around the ankle of a small child. As you well know, the bells are very noisy. That noise made it very easy for the mother, or nurse maid, to know the whereabouts of the child.
As to the necklace, the fillagree of the dangles looks Libyan. Saad Al-Jadir, in his book Arab & Islamic Silver identifies pieces with this type of fillagree as being from Libya. Such pieces are also popular across the border in Tunisia, where they are often collected, and misidentified as being Tunisian.
Nancy Hernandez