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Comments

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  Betty February 21, 2015 at 4:52pm

  A very beautiful example, Nada. I like it very much!
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  Sami Yousef February 21, 2015 at 5:24pm

  A truely nice example of a Maskeh with the famous "Al Korsi" versus from the Quran. This kind of Maskeh is widely used in Palestine and the north of Jordan. You would also be surprised -like I was- to know that the same exact piece is used in Afghanistan! I became to know this when I bought 2 from an Afghani dealer in Dubai thinking it was Palestinian.
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  Nada February 21, 2015 at 6:04pm

  Hah! That is surprising. You mean it did not travel there but is made locally in Afghanistan? I'd love to see a photo when you have the time.
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  Sami Yousef February 21, 2015 at 6:13pm

  Correct! I had the same reaction when I became to know. Apparently they were made and used in Afghanistan. Unfortunately I am away from my collection over the coming few weeks but I will make sure I will send a photo once am back, Br
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  Alaa eddine SAGID February 21, 2015 at 7:12pm

  Well these ones were also widely used in Morocco. After finding and seeing them in many arts of the islamic world came to the conclusion that this type and a couple others (crescent shaped for instance) were export items from somewhere in the middle east....i suspect an ottoman ruled area in the levant...the one i found were all very much worn so quite old. In my opinion they would have made perfect presents and souvenirs for haj pilgrims...eitheir buying them in Mecca ( during late hashemite rule for after saudi rule became established over holy mosques such unorthodox items were outlawed) or at the usual stop of Al quds /Jerusalem which was the norm back then.
  
  These pendants are likely following the very same original model so they must come from one place...either produced locally at pilgrims stops or imported from further north.
  
  These are employed in morocco as newly born babies charmsto ne pinned at their coffin (i mean beds) and eventually be worn as a pendant for grown ups and also often swapped through female family members and friends to any new mother for the use explained before
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  Preethi February 22, 2015 at 8:17am

  Wow! That is some new and interesting information! I know these from Morocco, and find them very appealing, mostly as they lend themselves so well to all sorts of jewellery designs. I hate to admit to the sinking feeling in my stomach when I hear they are made in Afghanistan....Sadly, made in Afghanistan in the jewellery world has come to mean rough, inexpensive pieces, bad enamelling and I would really like to see some well-made Afghani pieces to get rid of this bias.
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  Nada February 22, 2015 at 10:40am

  Thank you all for your contributions. Yes, the Ayat Al Kursi pendants are used throughout the Islamic world and at least here in the Middle East, used exactly as Ala Eddine describes. He has a very interesting theory as for your comments about Afghani jewelry Preethi, there are many beautiful items of jewelry that originate in Afghanistan, the cheap junk that is produced nowadays (also in Pakistan) is nothing like the original beauties that you find in both countries. Here is one example from Linda's collection:https://ethnicjewels.ning.com/photo/cuff-n-afghanistan