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Comments
The silver dealers seem not to know what to do with these...I have seen numerous holga loops turned into ash-trays by welding them to a silver base. I also think that without the woven belt to give it some context, it is less appealing to the average person than some other piece of silver. I suspect, therefore, that these silver loops may eventually be melted down in large numbers, resulting in their future scarcity.
Its too bad that the southern-style belt loops are under-appreciated. I think there is something appealing about their simple utility. Recently, a silver dealer showed me one of these and said, "It makes a good paper weight for your husband's office...I'll sell it to you for the silver weight if you like." Then he threw it onto a pile of scrap silver. At the moment these are almost ubiquitous and every shop has five of them...but I think not for long.
As for the fish designs, yes I think you are correct Chantal. There are a number of other designs in the jewelry and textiles that can be found also in ancient mosaics and other architectural elements. I'm sure entire dissertations have probably been written on the subject, although I can't cite for you any particular examples.
Seems that history keeps repeating itself!!
Wherever you go you will have the same testimonies of dealers swearing their gods that they sold heavy anklets, bracelets, belt bucckles......by the tons as scrap metal to be melt and reshaped in new fashionable items!!
It all happened when ethnic jewelry interest was not but a mere researchers affair and an interest for a very few enlightned collectors!!
Museums are all stocked to the roof and serious collecting is only done by amateur like you Edith and you should be thanked for that, especially when it comes to simple, rural pieces that are usually discarded by most of us
I too love the simplicity of this piece. It's such an honest piece doing the job it was created for. Is it carved on both sides? I second Chantal's wish for you to start selling some of your finds. I had not seen very much Tunisian jewelry and now I'm totally intrigued.
It is carved on both sides, but the other side has a simple diamond pattern.