Photos

Comments

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  Alaa eddine SAGID September 29, 2011 at 9:52am

  Colonial era fibulas made for the resident french and foreigners.

   

  Usually they were heavily made in algeria but could have been originating rom Tunisia as well.

   

  Silversmiths from Italy, Malta, spain who migrated to north africa seeking job were specializing in this style as well as in making the bracelets chantal and patty have posted.....For the souvenir market as well.

   

  A pair is very rare and sometimes they mimick the ethnic use and put a thin chain to attach them together but here it seems that it is not the case, and in my opinion the crescent are only for decoration and not worn circles.

   

  Semi precious stone, glass, pearls, coral and gold was also used making them very desireable.

   

  Here in France they are quite commonly offered on flea markets and on the net
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  Edith D September 29, 2011 at 12:02pm

  Thanks Ayis, this is very helpful!  It would make sense that these were owned by some Tunisian ex-pat!  These are very light compared with my more traditional fibule, and I think I may actually wear these sometime.
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  Alaa eddine SAGID November 11, 2011 at 8:00pm

  Hi edith i have just posted an old picture of a tunisian woman wich is a clear evidence that these kind of fibulas were worn as well by natives with their original costume.

   

  It seems that these fibulas were urban at most (the lady wearing it originates from Mahdia since she is wearing a necklace from this city) and are a clear adaptation of the rural pairs to a much more urban taste.

   

  The technique used is sophisticated and illustrates a orientalist touch testifying to a foreign influence maybe as early as the ottoman colonisation
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  Edith D November 12, 2011 at 11:06am

  Thanks Ayis for the interesting photo!  It seems to me that the jewelry here in Tunisia is a very close reflection of what was happening historically...a cross pollination of diverse cultures that resulted in a unique amalgamation.  I think this has been happening for quite a long time in Tunisia with original Berber culture being overlaid with Arab, Ottoman, French and Italian culture.  I have recently read some interesting statistics on the Amazigh culture here.  Apparently, the official figures (which I know in this part of the world are always suspect) is that the Amazigh ethnic group is only 1% of the population in Tunisia.  If this figure is to be believed I think it is a part of what is seen in the jewelry...this tendency to absorb all the various foreign influences and in the process creating something new.  This is why I have taken to rolling my eyes every time a silver dealer tells me that a Tunisian piece is "Berber."
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  Alaa eddine SAGID November 12, 2011 at 11:24am

  absolutely Edith.

  Tunisia may well be the country in north africa with most foreign influences beginning as early as the phoenicians who settled there creating the carthaginian culture.

   

  As for the berbers, they are ethnically the majority, meaning that those who say they are arab are actually  ethnic (in regards of DNA..) berber who lost their language and original culture.....they became carthaginians with the phoenicians, adopted latin with roman conquest, absorbed vandal influences who were passing by, learnt to speak arabic after islamic conquest and even nowadays abandonning arabic in favour of French....the number of foreign invaders was so low it could not trigger a great unbalance in the genetic composition, but their languages and cultures were strong enough to make berber culture slowly fade away.

   

  Tunisia is somehow a solved problem in regards of berberhood and arabhood, the majority of the population speaking arabic and indetifying themselves as arabs, on the other hand this identity issue could proove much more difficult to adress in algeria (25% berber speaking) and even more in Morocco (50% berber speaking)

   

  How is the silver market in tunisia nowadays? i have spent the last 3 days in Morocco and prices are soaring with intersting pieces far and between.

  Are there any libyan pieces on sale?

   

  best wishes
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  Edith D November 12, 2011 at 12:58pm

  There are still a few bargains to be found in the old Medina.  I think because of a bad tourist season, some shops have kept the old silver prices.  Libyan pieces are definitely found here, and I just purchased a studded silver cuff with Tripoli marks for a very reasonable price.  Will post it shortly.
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  Joost Daalder November 12, 2011 at 1:02pm

  What an interesting dialogue, Edith and Ayis! I have much enjoyed reading this and find it very instructive. Cheers, Joost
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  Chantal November 12, 2011 at 2:33pm

  I personally find these hybrid pieces fabulous.............keep buying whilst they are still affordable.There were a few similar to these on ebay recently, they looked weird and wonderful to me but I did not have a clue as to their provenance!.....I feel better now having read your exchange with Ayis. A book remains to be written on the hybrid, mixed culture pieces of North Africa.

  I look forward to seeing the Lybian bracelet!
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  Edith D December 13, 2013 at 7:25pm

  Ayis, can you check out the other pin I have just posted, and let me know if you think this is the same type of item?  The workmanship and form is so very similar to these....