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Tunisian/Algerian (?) Ornament, silver and coral

Large silver and coral ornament with Algerian or Tunisian charms, selsela chain. Size 19 cm by 11cm
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Comments

  • Love it Toya!

  • Thanks Hillary! This beauty is from Linda Pastorino at the Tribal Show in SF.

  • Very nice
  • wow, very beautiful and big too!

  • beautiful piece toya. congratulations

    this piece is at least 75 years old, refering to the " tete... " halmarks i the back ( the big pendant )

    it is difficult to say exactly from where it is,the political borders between the 2 coutries came later on.

    the central big pendant is typicaly chawi work ( tebessa , Batna , soug ahrass ) not far from the borders with west tunisia.

    the upper triangular pendant is more tunisian side shape.

    the dangles are from the both sides. even some are maroccans. the one with the coral is from north of chawi and tunisian area. could be annaba, taref and el kala areas.

    wunderfull piece

  • Most probably tunisian
  • Thank you. Does anyone have an idea as to the original use of this pendant? There is a hook on the small top  pendant like a headress or a central fibula decoration might have. Two loops on the sides of the larger pendant indicate it was attached to something on each side. It is very large and very heavy. I have looked through old photographs of tribal dress but can not find anything similar being worn.

  • Toya:  The hook is a re-used head clip.  It is used to secure head ornaments to a head band or head scarf.  See my photos (I have photo of collection of loose hooks, and also a complete selsela head ornament with coins and triangular hooks).  It is quite common, by the way, for these to be re-used as necklace ornaments.  I have seen entire "glada" necklaces ornamented with these are pendant-charms!

  • Edith-Thank you for the information. The hook has been repaired with a silver backing. I remember you said in previous comments that the Tunisians reworked old jewelry elements into "new" arrangements, so this makes sense.

  • Your welcome...Ayis, my guess is that this is from the western part of Tunisia since it shares some similarities with Algerian pieces.  What do you think???

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