PLEASE CLICK ON THE SMALL PICTURES TO SEE
THE ITEMS IN FULL....
NAF270. Here is
a nice variety of fibulae - #1 is 3 inches tall - $80.US.
#2 is 3 1/2 inches tall - $65.US. #3 is 3 1/2 inches tall
- $155.US. #4 is 2 3/4 inches tall - $66.US. (#3 is available)
NAF271. This is
a very old Moroccan hairpiece with a coin (1321) attached. It could
be used as a very extended ring or hung as a pendant. It measures 4
1/4 inches long, and the ring size is an 8.5. $125.US.
(sold)
NAF272. This is
a great new Tuareg ring and I wish that it was in my size. This is
made in a traditional way with great skill. It is a size 10.5 or so
- $75.US.
NAF274. This is
a great enamelled (though much is worn off over the years) Moroccan bead
with a hanging loop at each end. It is often the central focus point
of of a pair of fibulae, attached together with chains or cord. It
measures 3 1/4 inches in length including hanging loops and is about 2 1/8
inch in diameter. Quite wonderful in its detail and colouring.
It is good and old and much used. $220.US.
NAF275. Here are
two Yemeni strands with nice striped agate beads, imitation coral (glass),
and silver. The bead strands are about 26 inches long. Amulet
#1 is 2 inches wide. Amulet #2 is 2 1/4 inches wide. $220.US/each
strand.
NAF276. There are three antique, well worn, beautiful silver
enamelled silver beads from Morocco. They are often worn as the
central bead of a necklace or hanging on chains between two fibula.
Bead #1 is quite heavy and sturdy (35.6 grams). It had a
thick design soldered onto it and now is worn to a smoother finish
which I like very much. The bead is 1 3/4 inches long.
$145.US. Bead #2 is small and sweet - it is the most
worn but remarkably it still has a good finish on the enamelling. The
bead is just under 1 1/2 inches long and weighs 12.7 grams.
$45.US. (#2 is sold)
Bead #3 is the largest of the three. It is 2 1/8 inches long, has
a central hole for stringing as well as three loops for hanging
dangles, etc. from. It is very well worn with more than
half of the enamelling missing. It has a rich look with the
colours of silver and other bits of colours showing in places... it
weighs 30.3 grams. $165.US. I see many newer versions of
these that don't look particularly interesting - while the old ones
seem to hold history inside themselves. (#3 is available)
NAF278. This coin is 2 7/8 inches tall and was worn in Morocco.
It makes a great central piece. $125.US.
NAF279. There are four silver spiral pendants from Morocco
here - the endlessness of chance and of life. These are old pendants
showing wear on their hanging loops. They are still good and
strong though. The small ones (2 1/8 inches tall) are
$35.US/each and the large ones (3 1/8 inches tall) are
$65.US/each. (#2 is available)
NAF281. All of these shell pendants have some manner of
fastening them to something else. #1 is 1 1/8 inch with a central
hole - $14.US. #2 is 1 1/8 inch with a hole from one end
to another - $16.US. #3 is 1 3/8 inches across with a central
hole - $20.US. #4 is 7/8 inch across with numerous holes -
$18.US. #5 is 7/8 inches across with a hole at the top - $16.US.
#6 is 3/4 inches across with a number of holes - $14.US.
#7 is 1 inch across with an X cut into it - $18.US. #8 is a
collection of 5 small holed pieces (sold) -
$26.US (#1, #2, #3, #5, #6 & #7 are available)
NAF288. These are six 5 franc coins from "Tunise" -
Tunisia. The 15/16 diameter silver coins are from around 1939
with hanging loops soldered onto them. Wires hold them onto a
hoop and they look very attractive together clanking lightly when
moved. The group of coins weighs 54 grams. $165.US.
NAF292. Here is a hefty, fat necklace of amber
style resin beads from Morocco. These are just as important to
the people as true amber, and the same name is used for both of them.
These beads are old, worn, softened, and beautiful. They
have felt circles between each bead as protections from scratching or
damaging each other. The necklace is finished with a trade bead
at each end, and then buttoned shut with a silver piece and a loop.
The length of beads is 19 1/2 inches and the widest beads are 1
5/8 inch in diameter. This is a strong and dramatic piece.
$1550.US. (sold)
NAF294. Here is a delicate and graceful silver Tuareg
bracelet. It has attractive etching decorating the front and the
bracelet narrows nicely towards the back and is ended with attractive
knobs. The inside of the bracelet is 2 3/8 by 1 3/4 inches with
an opening of 1 inch. It slips easily on and off. $85.US. (sold)
NAF295. This is a great Tuareg silver ring for a size 7.5
to 8 size finger. It is made from a piece of silver which has
been hammered flat (with delicate curves here and there) and engraved
with a pattern on the front and sides. I like the way that it
winds around the finger. $85.US. (sold)
NAF296. This piece measures 20 1/2 inches long. It
is a combination of 2 fibulae (they have coral placed in the silver
openings and the remains of enamel in green and orange in the dips of
the design) with chains attaching them to beads. It is rather
small and delicate and would work very nicely in a very decorative way
on a sweater. It is silver, and it is antique though I imagine
the pieces have been attached in a new combination than in the past as
the spring rings seem to be newer than the main pieces. $110.US.
NAF297. This is a beautiful large Berber silver pendant
with a good amount of the yellow and green enamelling remaining.
The central glass cabochon is a very dark red colour. The
pendant is 3 5/8 inches tall and has holes on the sides for suspension.
It would originally have probably been sewn onto a head-dress.
$175.US. (sold)
NAF298. This is a beautiful, simple Moroccan/Berber
silver pendant. It is 4 1/8 inches tall with dangles. The
top square cabochon is a very dark green. The central one is a
very dark red. There are a number of holes that could be used for
suspension. $135.US.
NAF299. There is an interesting group of Moroccan/Berber
pendants here. Pendant #1 has been cast and has a stringing hole
across the top as well as across the bottom. It has been
enamelled with the typical colours but much of that has been worn off.
The central cabochon is a round piece of red glass. The
pendant is 2 1/4 inches tall. $66.US. Pendant #2 is
fabricated from a thick sheet of cast silver soldered with wire.
There are stringing holes across the top as well as across the
bottom. The upper round cabochon is dark red, and the lower oval
one is dark green. The piece is 2 1/8 inches tall. $90.US.
Pendant #3 is made of sheet silver with wire, enameling and a
square red facet glass stone. There are hanging loops on each
side as well as at the top. The piece is 1 5/8 inches tall.
$60.US. Pendant #4 is a typical pendant made of sheet
silver and nielloed with black. The square cabochon is bright
red. The pendant is 2 1/4 inches tall. $56.US.
NAF300. The Moroccan/Berber pieces are getting difficult
to find and the prices are rising quickly. My apologies, but they
will only be higher in the future. They have been bought
constantly since the 1960s. Pendant #1 is very nicely made,
decorated with both enamel and niello. The piece is 3 inches tall
and has a stringing hole on each side. $72.US. Pendant #2
is small and tidy, 1 3/4 inches tall and nicely enamelled. There
is a stringing hole across the top and a hole on each side.
$45.US. Pendant #3 is very graceful. It is made of
sheet silver with enamel, niello, wire and a dark red glass cabochon in
the middle. It is 2 inches tall. $85.US. Pendant #4
is decorated with enamel, niello and a small central cone. The
piece is 2 1/2 inches tall, and has stringing holes on each side.
It would once have been stitched onto a head-dress. $48.US.
NAF301. These are quite expensive but quite unusual and
they would make an excellent necklace. The pendants are made of
coins. Some were holed in the past and used as pendants so they
carry a long history. There are Islamic coins as well as European
coins. The only one that shows the date clearly is 1868. I
find them very attractive with the pleated silver sleeves made to hold
the cord for suspension. They average about 1 1/2 inches in
length. Added up they would fill 6 3/4 inches of the cord of a
necklace. $280.US. (sold)
NAF302. There are two substantial matching Berber silver
pendants from Morocco here. The pieces are 3 1/4 inches tall.
They each have a hanging loop and a layer of enamelled silver
over a layer of nielloed silver. The stones in the centers are
dark red and stand in frames that are nicely patterned on the sides.
$175.US./each pendant.
NAF303. Here are two of the typical Berber beads used in
necklaces or as a center bead in a chain connected to two fibulae.
The beads are around a hundred years old and most of their
enamelling has been worn off over the years. Bead #1 has coins
hanging from it - 50cent Spanish coins from the last quarter of the
1800s. The bead is 1 3/8 inches across. The coins are a
little under 3/4 inch across. $280.US. Bead #2 is smaller
and smoothly worn in places. It measures 1 1/8 inches across with
a diameter of 1 inch. $115.US. (#1 is available)
NAF304. There are two antique Tuareg silver crosses here.
These are not new copies but old pieces. Cross #1 is 1 1/2
inches tall and very nicely worn. $72.US. Cross #2 has
nicely worn decorations around the rim. It hangs beautifully.
$96.US. (#2 is available)
NAF305. What an amazing pair of Berber (Morocco, Middle
and Anti-Atlas) anklets! They are very heavy, one weighing 266
grams and the second weighing 274 grams - a total of 540 grams.
The anklets measure just under 8 inches around on the inside -
too large for me to wear as bracelets with my 6 inch wrists but
wonderful for a sturdier wrist. The width inside is 2 3/4 inches
across, and the opening is 1 3/8 inches across. The anklets are
old and nicely worn with the patterns smoothed a little from wear.
They are each deeply stamped on the inside by the maker - using a
rectangle for his symbol. You can see a lighter weight version of these
on page 21 of "A World of Bracelets" from the Colette Ghysels
collection. At a bargain price of $1.20/gram the pair costs
$648.US. What a beautiful treat - very sculptural. (sold)
NAF306. This is an enamelled silver bracelet, set
with red glass and having four coins hanging from it - from Morocco.
The bracelet opens with a pin so that it can be put on and taken
off easily. This is a good heavy piece (more modern pieces tend
to have thin silver and bend easily) and is 1 1/4 inches tall, and 2
1/4 inches by 2 1/8 inches on the inside. It needs polishing very
badly as it hasn't been cleaned for many years. It will gleam
beautifully if it is looked after. $345.US.
NAF307. This is a richly coloured carnelian Tuareg
amulet/hair piece. It is old, and used and in excellent
condition. I haven't shown a photograph from the side but it is
1/4 inch thick and has an attractive set of carved dots on each side of
the triangular part. The triangular part has 3 carved stripes
crossing it on both sides. The piece is 2 3/4 inches tall and is
very "alive" when held in the sun. $75.US.
NAF262. Two simple silver
Yemeni necklaces. The amulet of #1 is 2 3/4 inches across and the entire
strand is 24 1/2 inches long. The amulet of #2 is 2 7/8 inches long
and the entire strand is 25 inches long. $85.US/each
(#1 is available)
NAF266. Here is
a beautiful "amber" necklace ready to wear. This is called "amber"
in North Africa and has all of the importance of natural amber but is in
reality simulated and made from a resin or plastic more than 50 yrs old. These beads are old, have
been worn and are hugely attractive. There are 11 carved pieces of
shell separating some of the beads. This necklace was bought in Morocco,
is shut with a sterling silver clasp and measures 18 1/2 inches in length.
The wides bead is 1 7/8 inch in diameter. $650.US/sale price $350.US. (sold)
NAF267. This is
an interesting collection of "fake" amber which was collected over time by
an African bead dealer who I know. They are all made from some sort
of plastic or resin, but are coloured in very true shades of amber with some
having streaks of colour and striations. It is a very attractive collection
and I think would look just great in its current order with enough silver
beads added around the back to make it a necklace. Everyone has their
own visions though. There are about 9 inches of beads with the fattest
one being slightly over 1 1/4 inches in diameter. The one with the
cross-hole going through it is 1 3/8 inches long. I love the warm feel
of these beads. $325.US. (on hold)
NAF251. Here is an antique
pendant from Morocco - shaped like a perfume container. It has a few
little holes in the side, so perhaps one drops some liquid perfume into it
for an essence which protects the wearer. This is 4 1/8 inches long.
$145.US.
NAF256. These Moroccan coins,
made to hang on neckpieces, head-dresses, etc. are $24.US each except for
#4 which is $34.US. Coin #1 is just over 1 5/8 inches tall including
loop. (#6 is available)
NAF221. Here are three
Moroccan fibulae from the Dra'aa Valley (page 28 of "A World of Necklaces".
They represent turtles and different designs represent different regions
of the country. #1 is 3 3/8 inches tall - $125.US. #2 is
3 1/8 inches tall - $120.US. #3 is 3 1/2 inches tall - $130.US.
(#1 is available)
NAF226. The Tuareg make
very attractive, very assertive jewellery. This bracelet was made to
fit a young person, but for an adult, would be a great pendant on an impressive
necklace. It weighs 158.5 grams, is formed from a single piece of silver,
and has been flared out and then hammered with dramatic designs. The
inside measures a little over 1 5/8 inches across, the outside measures 2
3/4 inches across at the widest. According to "A World of Bracelets"
(page 37) "A Targuia woman appreciates beautiful silver jewellery with simple
designs and geometric forms. The weight of these sold elkez
bracelets and matching earrings indicates that they also function as reserve
funds. Most of the ornaments of the Sahara are made by melting down
ancient coins." $255.US.
NAF239. This is an unusual pair
of Moroccan fibulae. They are a good size - measuring 12 inches in
length from top of pin to bottom of pendants. I haven't seen any like
this before. The pieces are made of bronze, not silver and some of
the metal on the decorated part is machine made, not hand wrought.
It is difficult to pin down the age of this, but I would think it is around
30 to 50 years old or so. The pin part has been worn just a little,
and the enamelling has been exposed a bit. The decorated part is thick
like a pillow and held in place with brass/bronze triangular slices.
Like I said before, they are quite distinct in style. $425.US/for
the pair.
NAF246. Here is
a brand new piece. It is attractive though, and reflects tradition.
The pendant is quite long - 5 1/8 inches tall, and slightly crudely made
compared to the antique ones. The design and patterning are traditional
though, and it is signed on the back by the maker. Most of the beads
are glass and generally from India and from Czechoslovakia. The amber
looking beads are attractive imitations. There are a few sterling silver
spacers from India as well. The piece can be tied shut to be worn.
$75.US/sale $45.US.
NAF206. Pair of heavy
silver antique fibulae, measuring 6 1/2 inches long. They show old
wear that makes them more attractive. They are not exactly the same
size but are close enough to be a matched pair. Nicely there is a bit
of a pattern hammered onto the loop that helps to fasten the pin into one's
cloak or clothing. It is a nice touch. $285.US/pair. (sold)
NAF207. Amazing delicate,
graceful antique silver fibulae complete with chains, coin decorations, and
delicate central pendant. The entire length (unfolded) is 21 1/2 inches.
$475.US.
NAF188. This is
a great pair of old, worn fibulae made of very old silver Moroccan coins
- unfortunately the dates are covered with silver so I can't read the years.
They have been used quite a bit and show appealing wear on them. You
can see that a chain had been attached but can only wonder what it contained.
The coins themselves 2 3/8 inches across. The pins on the pendants
are different in length as one must have broken over the years and been resharpened
at a shorter length. One is 5 3/4 inches long, and the other is 5 inches
long. They match very nicely though and are full of character. $145.US. (sold)
NAF199. Well, I
am very fond of very many items from North Africa. This is a nicely
matching pair of lovely good silver fibulae worn very proundly by Berber
women. According to page 242 of Africa Adorned "The various groups
of Ait Hadiddu women are distinguished by the design and colour of the stripes
on their woollen capes and the type of fibula they wear. These often
represent animals believed to have magical properties." These fibulae
are illustrated there and represent the jackal's paw "dar-n-ouchen" and are
worn in the eastern regions. The pieces are 5 7/8 inches long and the
two weigh about 7.1 ounces. $295.US/for the pair.