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.

Three Parasol Hairpins, Ethiopia

Posted by Eva Baby on September 28, 2014 at 7:07pm

Three old hairpins, the left and middle ones are from province Tigray. the one at left was my first one, the one at right is made of good material (silver or silver alloy, from member Ingrid), and the middle one is probably the oldest. It also has it s original dangles (the left one is old too, but the dangles have probably been replaced). So far, I could not find out of what material the two old ones are made....... I think they spent years lying in the dirt. Although I cleaned them well and several times, the original material of the main part (Parasol) is unknown to me.

Comments

ingrid Langerak September 29, 2014 at 12:55am

Lovely display and interesting points. Thank you Eva for mentioning me. I do give them the same age though. Look at the workmanship the way the rings on which the bells are hanging and the chains of the bells are molded onto the chains. The one in the middle I think has its links replaced with and was perhaps too much loved and worn daily.

Gr. Ingrid.
Eva Baby September 29, 2014 at 5:40am

@Thanks Ingrid for your comments. You are probably right. The sellers did not know anything about them, except that the seller of the oldest one (middle) said it is from Tigray.Perhpas the links were replaced. I have to check on them again. But the dangles are indeed very old and "ugly from age". It is difficult to tell. And it is extremley difficult to find Ethiopian hairpins, I saw this one (the middle one that I just bought) only by accident.
ingrid Langerak September 29, 2014 at 10:12am

Eva, I really do not know from just the photo what possible material they can be. Perhaps more copper and nickel was used in the mixture of silver? But in this case the butter used in the hair with the dirt so caked in and than having been in the soil for so long and maybe with intense heat, this maybe the result?What about the granulate decoration with the rounded heads the dirt may be easier to get through and do a test on one of them. The fillegrain may be harder to get clean of this genuine dirt. For sure Eva, it is honest dirt through the years and not added for antique look. Just think how proudly these ladies of Tigray and Wollo walked. Regards Ingrid.