If people are interested, I have just placed the following article online:

The Magic Symbol Repertoire of Talismanic Rings from East and West Africa.

Primary document at https://www.academia.edu/7634962/The_Magic_Symbol_Repertoire_of_Talismanic_Rings_from_East_and_West_Africa

Mirror at  http://www.scribd.com/doc/233634294/The-Magic-Symbol-Repertoire-of-Talismanic-Rings-From-East-and-West-Africa

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  • Hi Lloyd,  the pictures I just admitted are the amulets (telsums) I wondered if the decoration on them are of the same mysterious value as the rings.  There are not so many around, and from a different area .

    Just wondered and perhaps  throw in a new question. Maybe not so funny. gr. Ingrid.

  • Thanks Ingrid, good to hear from you again.

  • Thanks Chantal. Yes, there is even a catalogue online: http://issuu.com/institutdumondearabe/docs/art_secret_catalogue_bd?...

  • Many thanks for your interesting article LlOyd.

    You must have heard of the Institut  du Monde Arabe expo. in Tourcoing (Northern France) on "Les ecritures talismaniques de l'Afrique de l'Ouest) (Sept. 2014 to Dec.). Related to your speciality. I am sure that they have a catalogue about the expo.

    A must for anyone interested in Western Africa culture.

  • Dear Lloyd, 

    I just enjoyed your humorous writing on how you got  started with your research and the reaction of your scientist friends, like....lets humor him.  Your research and study paper takes a lot more concentration but I am doing it bit by bit, especially  since I do have quite a number of these rings in my possession.  Also scrolls, so of course, I will be looking if any of these signs are to be found on them.

    There are some points though like the rings of Ethiopia are mostly worn by  people of Islamic belief, and the scrolls are the talisman for people of the christian belief.   So actually magical signs are not religiously bound.

    Ethiopia has many charms (telsums) which is also worn by women of all back grounds.  I noticed on  several of them there are some figures layed on the little boxes in the fillegrain  style and I wanted to show them to you if they are of any significance.

    WIll do so tomorow.

    Gr. Ingrid

       

  • Just an update to mention that Sarah Corbett kindly invited me to write my personal back-story to the talismanic rings paper for Ethnic Jewels Magazine. The result -- "Seduced by Symbols" -- is now online at http://ethnicjewelsmagazine.com/seduced-by-symbols-a-personal-persp... 

    Enjoy!

  • Hallo Lloyd,  Thank you for replying to all the pictures.  In the meantime I have gotten a download from Betty via our personal emails.  Again thank you for your willingness.  I am going to print it sothat I may have the references always at hand.  So informative for me.   A good thing that I held on to the rings, because whenever I got new items in I always keep the more beautiful ones (could afford it then) in my collection until I find a worthwhile buyer and I feel that person is worthy of it.  Silly, but I am quite protective of beautiful items, and I do feel that if items do come from Africa people think they should cost 10 cent. Once again I am so excited and will go through them with your gideline in hand.  Hope to hear or see more from you.

    Gr. Ingrid.

  • Hi Ingrid, Many thanks for your new post and especially for uploading the additional photos of your Jimma rings. Some of those symbol-laden rings are the most impressive that I've ever seen from Ethiopia - just fantastic!

    I think that all of the examples in your new photos do fall within the categories that I outlined in the paper, but some of the individual symbols are ones I hadn't seen before. However, I always knew this would be a study with no end...

    I'll put comments under the photos where I think I can contribute something meaningful.

    I'm sorry to hear you've had trouble downloading the paper. If you send a Message to my Inbox with your email address, I'm happy to email you the PDF file. Anyone else who would like a copy emailed directly to them is welcome to do the same. 

    Cheers, Lloyd.

  • Hi Lloyd, I have just read part of your study paper again, so enlightening for me.  Love it.  And I have just placed some of my collection of the inscribed rings, Are any of these a surprise for you?  I also wonder if the eleborate quilded (I have them also just in silver) are also to be put under your studied rings? or just an coincidence.?

    I tried to download it, but they are messing around with signing in and that doesn.t always work for me as I do not  make the right steps.  So I have to go back to your reference everytime.  Thank you for directing me to p.17.My rings are mostly of the silver 700-800/1000.  But mostly my collection was collecting in the 1970-80.Perhaps many of the good silver ones have been melted down for re-use? Love to hear from you again.

    Gr. Ingrid.

  • Hi Lloyd, I would love to chat to you about your paper and the possibility of talking about your studies in an article at ethnicjewelsmagazine.com

    please drop me a line 

    sarah@berbersilver.com

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