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Comments
A detail of the hallmarks...
A libyan lady wearing one of these...
Great old pic. and thanks to the 70s traveler and collector...
Wonderful piece, particularly the gilding, I have seen several without the gilding. Does the gilding mean it is from Djerba or is it common among other types of Tunisian jewelry? Are you keeping this piece, what are your plans for it?
Thanks Patti....I have never seen a shayria necklace (Libyan or Djerban) that was not originally gilded, although it is very common to find them with the gilding almost completely worn off. Unfortunately, I think the 20th century jewelers in Tunisia and Libya used an electroplate process that is not very durable. I have a necklace from Yemen at least as old as this one with gilding that looks like it was just done yesterday because a much more durable (although dangerous) mercury process was used.
I have recently acquired this piece, and have not decided yet if I will keep it. My other shayriah is Tunisian from Djerba, but the Libyan ones often migrate across the border to Tunisia. A very similar shayriah also with Tripoli marks appears in Perez's book on Tunisian jewelry.
I have to say, I am glad that the current jewelers don't use the old methods anymore, although one of my friends did tell me that the lead method was still being used in some areas. I am especially impressed on this piece by the tiny little finger pendants, it is certainly well preserved. These are especially dramatic necklaces, I think.