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CIMG0935 Is this the hand of Fatuma??

Posted by ingrid Langerak on July 30, 2014 at 3:40pm

This is another subject. I am still not clear what these pendants stand for, Sarah though it had to deal with Yewish tradition for a girl helping her to get into womanhood. Now this picture is a drawing of Prince Alamayehu, son of Emperor Tewodros who was taken into capture to England after his father had committed suicide after failing to overcome the British. He is a boy, christian, and he wears female protection of an islamic background. Now does this now get even more confusing???

Comments

Eva Baby July 30, 2014 at 10:16pm

to me, the Pendants do not look like the Hand of Fatouma as I know it from West Africa, but I am not the expert (with some Imagination they could be indeed, but I think they rather look like These Pendants worn in Ethiopia in the form of an oval (or a beetle, or even a paw=? Perhaps this was the more sophisticated Version? I try to find a photo of such Pendants to Show.
ingrid Langerak July 30, 2014 at 10:24pm

I know which ones you are aiming for. Those are a high up and perhaps more like what Sarah was mentioning as to its purpose. They are also often worn on the forehead. These pendants always gives me a feeling of crocodile feet. Or like someone mentioned also like bugs like tors. But also the realization is this is a boy.
Eva Baby July 30, 2014 at 10:28pm

I found a Picture.......... yes, like bugs or paws..........(I do not know about it, it was just an idea. the Hand of Fatouma has many Versions.......actually the Tuareg pendant with 5 squares is also a Hand of Fatouma, (normally only worn by women).
ingrid Langerak July 30, 2014 at 10:40pm

It remains a question mark for the moment. I am very frustrated that I haven.t asked some jewellers at the time I was there. Of these types are not so many around, especially as I was always looking for silver items and kind of snobbed nickel. But that is how it was. I am an admirer of items in silver and skillfull work.
Eva Baby July 30, 2014 at 10:46pm

perhaps someone knows......... I do not own the "bug" necklace below which had been sold as "telsums"....(I just copied the Picture as a reference, to widen my horizon )... I had seen many of those being sold, but I did not particularly like them, as they reminded me of bugs.
Betty July 30, 2014 at 11:02pm

I have even seem a photo of him wearing this piece. And if I am not wrong, a similar necklace - or the very same is now in the V&A Museum in london. Will check tomorrow...
ingrid Langerak July 30, 2014 at 11:44pm

That can be very well his piece Betty, because he was looked after by a british officer and unfortunately he died in England at a young age of about 21 yrs. of consumption. Very sad.