A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.
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Hi Preethi,
Looks Kabyle to me but then I am usually wrong...so lets wait for the experts! It does look old but has kept a lot of nice enamelling..........
Right on Chantal. This is a Kabyle piece. Notice the more geometric decorations. You may even find a stamp of some sort, perhaps a small diamond.
I agree, Hillary: this one has none of the characteristics that people here have increasingly been identifying as Moroccan. I do feel very confident about this one. I think you are right that the geometry is of cardinal importance. The colouring is also very good.
Thanks everyone! I'm glad to hear that this is a kabyle piece. Hilary, no stamps of any sort on the back. Any thoughts on how old this could possibly be?
I'm also torn about whether I should clean this up a bit, but I'm not sure this is silver. Any thoughts on whether this should be cleaned or not?
Joost, I believe Hilary and Chantal are saying this is Algerian Kabyle (please correct me if I'm wrong) because of the straight, geometric lines rather than swirly ones. The coral pieces are also whole and not beads that have been used, as are done in Moroccan pieces (again, please correct me if I'm wrong).
We are all in agreement here, Preethi, and I thought exactly the same way as Hillary and Chantal. There is of course no such thing as "Morroccan Kabyle", as the Kabyle come from Algeria. There are, however, pieces in Morocco which are made - roughly - in a Kabyle style, but they for one thing are less geometrical, containing swirls not seen on proper Kabyle; the colours tend to be different; and there are other distinguishing features as well. As to age, that is a little harder. However, your piece has a very "even" look, in all respects, including style of workmanship and wear (of which there is not a great deal). The colour is also very even, but shows no really "deep: level of tarnish and patina. My general feeling is that the piece is probably about 50 years old. But I say that with caution. I doubt it is older, though, and it could be a bit less old, I would think. I note that there is not much use of green, the colour of which often is also an aid in telling the age. But I think the other features are more important: lack of wear, smooth regularity of manufacture, lack of a general depth in the appearance. If I am right the piece would have seemed "old" to the seller as even after 15 years or so, if a piece is not regularly polished, it will assume quite a dark tarnished look which makes it look rather "aged", even though it is often quite a bit more recent than people assume. Then again, I cannot rule out that it might predate 1950 - but not, I would think, by much. In any case, I see no presence of anything Moroccan. Even the corals are set the Kabyle way, and have the right colour and texture. As to the colour, I must hedge my bets: it is also possible, in favour of a somewhat more recent date, that it was artificially aged. It does look even enough for that to be possible. All in all I would, in your position, be far more definite about the place of origin than the date.
Perfect detective work Preethi!
as I saw you analysis of the facts I felt like a proud mum!!
Beautifil Kabyle piece from Algeria, identified with all of the relevant factors perfectly!
I would nt clean it!!
But I always say that!!
big love
S x
If the piece is silver, then it is technically better to give it a good rub with a silver cloth than to let it tarnish further. I cannot stress often enough - and as a matter of undisputed fact - that neglected silver which is left to tarnish indefinitely will eventually fall apart. That is why institutions like the British Museum consider it ESSENTIAL that silver be polished from time to time. I am not sure that the piece actually is silver - it may also be another material which has been darkened up, and indeed it looks so even all over that that may well be the case. Either way, you will in no sense harm the piece or its value by rubbing it with an impregnated commercially available silver cloth. If the material is silver, it will respond by producing a glow, even after only very modest and gentle polishing, which will not in any sense make it look more modern: rather, the process will make the piece look as though it has been properly cared for. There is absolutely nothing to be said for neglected and tarnished silver, as (a) it will lose the shine for which the material is valued in the first place; (b) will become deadly dull; and (c) will eventually deteriorate, in the end to such an extent that the piece cannot be salvaged, as a result of its inevitable destruction. So you cannot possibly lose by rubbing it with a cloth. However, if at all possible use NO liquid on the metal, as that removes more than is desirable, and tends to provide too modern a look. NEVER polish up anything other than the highlights: the recesses should remain untouched, or you lose the sense of contrast which is so appealing. If the material turns out to contain silver (you will soon tell once you try a silver cloth on it), then you can decide for yourself to what extent you want to go on polishing up the highlights. You cannot in any way harm the piece this way: if you find the highlights too bright, just leave the piece unpolished and it will re-tarnish, as any silver alloy automatically does. But remember: if a piece is silver and is not polished in any way, not only will it get darker and darker and lose all sheen, but, also - and far more importantly again - eventually (and it won't take that long) spots will appear that are almost impossible to remove without damage. Eventually, not least with the base metal (usually copper) that forms part of the alloy present, that will corrode the most, turning brown/black and eventually green. By sheer neglect of the kind which Sarah would advocate if you pursued her view to its logical end, any piece of silver would eventually perish, which is exactly what has happened to many over the centuries. It is difficult to see what good that can possibly do! On the other hand, do not over-clean either, i.e. never use a so-called tarnish remover or stripper (far too harsh); avoid any liquids unless you really do have to use them for the removal of very heavy tarnish; and ALWAYS leave the recesses dark, as otherwise the piece will come to look new and unused.
PS: In rubbing, Peetri, of course concentrate on the metal - not the enamel. And use the cloth only. Good luck! If you manage to create a nice lustre, please take another photo and show us, so that people who don't know what difference careful polishing makes can see the "before and after" difference. (A very instructive experience.)
Preethi, this looks lovely without cleaning, but if you want a better shine, just use the silver cloth. Joost's advice is good, but if you don't want to clean it, I don't think that will ruin it. I have had some very black silver and cleaned it sucessfully with toothpaste application and silver cloth, so nothing is ever beyond help. The only thing here is to be careful with the coral and the enamel work which seems very intact and nice.
The toothpaste would act in much the same as it does on teeth: it's an abrasive, so only to be used in the case of very heavy tarnishing, and it is also a cleaner. It would be important to wash out any white residue. I don't think its application here is advisable or necessary - only in far more extreme cases. Any liquid should be thoroughly removed and the object dried after its use, in any case, or the liquid, itself, will cause harm. The rate of deterioration, with any piece of silver in general, depends entirely on the object and how it is dealt with. I have seen pieces in damp environments develop verdigree within months, and that is virtually impossible to remove without SOME deterioration, at least. It is much better to avoid! It is certainly an exaggeration, Pattie, to say that nothing is ever beyond help: that is true if there is no damage involved, and removal of tarnish/dirt only. But of course it's not true if the surface has deteriorated for too long, as is alas, with neglected silver, not infrequently the case. It really depends on whether what is on the surface can be removed while the surface is still smooth; if anything has "eaten into" the silver there is harm, and then often either that will be permanent, or the unevenness can only be removed by heavy abrasion, with silver loss (surely not desirable). If the piece is not silver - as so far seems possible - then probably it can be left alone without detriment, as in most cases the alloy would be designed for that purpose (as with alpaca etc).
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