3 fingers berber ring

theres is a real tradition for multiple fingers rings in the western part of the high atlas mountains.

This one comes from the north facing slopes of the western high atlas, they are simply etched and engraved and usually covering three fingers, rarely two. adding coins is a geneal feature that appeared in the last half of the 19 th century due to the monetarization (in opposition to barter) of trade and the wide availability of moroccan and french coins in the kingdom of morocco, but one can see through this habit the beginning of the great decadence of the oldest thechniques wich begun to disappear due to the foreign influences, the impoverishment of the local buyers and the migration of the skilled silversmiths to nearby cities.

ON the southern slopes, there is a wonderful 4 fingers ring that is really hard to come by and very rare, wich was usually engraved, nielloed and even enameled for the richest pieces.

The habit of wearing this kind of jewelry is to my understanding ad old tradition common to the entire islamic and oriental world, wich tends to cover every single patch of women bodies as a sign of wealth, of course such rings were used mainly in festive occasion, such as marriages and tribal dances to show off wealth since it is very hard to go by daily life with fingers trapped in such shell.

One can still notice nowadays that moroccan ladies, berber and arab alike, when attending and party, would try to cover themselves with as much jewelry as possible (though it's a usage that tends to fade away under the pressure of western fashion)

cheers

Comments

Kathleen McCabe-Elsey March 3, 2011 at 9:14pm

Hi Ayis ,
What is the significane behinf the multiple finger rings? If any...
Alaa eddine SAGID March 3, 2011 at 10:40pm

theres is a real tradition for multiple fingers rings in the western part of the high atlas mountains.

This one comes from the north facing slopes of the western high atlas, they are simply etched and engraved and usually covering three fingers, rarely two. adding coins is a geneal feature that appeared in the last half of the 19 th century due to the monetarization (in opposition to barter) of trade and the wide availability of moroccan and french coins in the kingdom of morocco, but one can see through this habit the beginning of the great decadence of the oldest thechniques wich begun to disappear due to the foreign influences, the impoverishment of the local buyers and the migration of the skilled silversmiths to nearby cities.

ON the southern slopes, there is a wonderful 4 fingers ring that is really hard to come by and very rare, wich was usually engraved, nielloed and even enameled for the richest pieces.

The habit of wearing this kind of jewelry is to my understanding ad old tradition common to the entire islamic and oriental world, wich tends to cover every single patch of women bodies as a sign of wealth, of course such rings were used mainly in festive occasion, such as marriages and tribal dances to show off wealth since it is very hard to go by daily life with fingers trapped in such shell.

One can still notice nowadays that moroccan ladies, berber and arab alike, when attending and party, would try to cover themselves with as much jewelry as possible (though it's a usage that tends to fade away under the pressure of western fashion)

cheers
Kathleen McCabe-Elsey March 5, 2011 at 3:19pm

Thanks you for that - I have a newer two fingereed fing - I will post.

This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Adorned Histories to add comments!

Join Adorned Histories

Gallery

3 fingers berber ring

Comments

Request your copy of our newsletter.