Gallery

A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.

Algerian Silver Bird Earrings

Posted by Nada on October 2, 2013 at 9:51am

Algerian Silver Bird Earrings

Comments

Alaa eddine SAGID October 2, 2013 at 9:03pm

Very interesting, the same bird pattern is to be found on many south moroccan earrings....i always thought this to be and old medieval islamic pattern

The moon pendants are reminescent to some very old kabyle earrings (non enameled with only coral cabs)....possibly, that your earrings come from close to the algerian/tUnisian border, were simpler earrings of this style (sometimes very large) are worn!

Here are older bird earrings from south morocco
Nada October 2, 2013 at 9:11pm

Beautiful old earrings you've shown from Southern Morocco. I see the resemblance. I've also seen similar bird motifs on Central Asian earrings if I'm not mistaken, so that gives credence to your theory about a Medieval Islamic origin.
Cecilia October 3, 2013 at 11:16am

These earrings from Dagestan are part of the collections of the state museum of Ethnography i St Petersburg. Russia. Found the photo in a museum publication from 1974.
Nada October 3, 2013 at 11:25am

There is a similarity Cecilia, certainly in the placing of the bird on the cusp of the earrings. Thank you for posting that picture.