Photos

Comments

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  Chantal February 22, 2012 at 2:19pm

  Whatever, its a beautiful arrangement. Was it sold as old?
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  Edith D February 22, 2012 at 4:28pm

  I didn't pay very much for it, and didn't discuss age with the seller, only workmanship.  I thought the chisel work on the harz was especially good, and that is why I bought it.  Although I am not sure how much of the assemblage is original, it is a well balanced piece and fun to wear.  It is also a very traditional configuration.  Whatever the original condition, I do not think it was intended as a deception, only part of a continuing tradition.  My suspicion is that someone had a fragmented piece and married it with some other old parts to complete the assembly.  Of course, I don't know any of this for certain.
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  Ethnic Embellishments February 22, 2012 at 4:47pm

  This is very lovely, and I find the use of some lapis interesting.  Is lapis naturally occuring in Tunisia?  I remember having a discussion regarding the use of lapis on a hamsa that you posted that featured a lapis cabochon.  Most of the world's lapis is supplied by Afghanistan, and there is no doubt that the trade in lapis is ancient, as the lapis used in Tutankhamen's famous effigy/ burial mask has been found to be from Afghanistan. 
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  Edith D February 23, 2012 at 6:56am

  Hi Hillary....these are not lapis beads.  They are opaque glass.  There are some old necklaces in the museums here that have lapis, but it is more usual to find blue glass beads from Europe.  I have posted other pics of bead details on this piece.
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  Eva Baby February 23, 2012 at 11:53am

  you wrote in the title that they are glass beads, not lapis. But the colour is striking! Really wonderful like lapis. The Hirz decoration is lovely, but I like the cute little pendants on the blue glass beads, consisting of hands of Fatima and moon crescents (styilized). All together, I find it a wonderful piece.
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  Edith D February 23, 2012 at 12:38pm

  Thanks, I really liked it too!  I hope one of our bead experts will tell me more about the glass beads.  I did a little internet surfing, and found mention of old Dutch glass beads that were blue and pentagonal in section, but don't know if the ones on this necklace are antiques or later copies.