5785a old worn cross, ?Tuareg, Mali

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5785a old worn cross, ?Tuareg, Mali

Posted by Ann Porteus on September 10, 2011 at 6:30am

Old worn large silver cross measuring 12 x 11.3 x 3.5cm and collected in Mali in 1995. The front and back of the box shape are riveted together from the stud decoration on the front. There is extensive wear across the top where the woven leather necklace passes through. Please feel free to contact me should you like more information.

Comments

Eva Baby September 10, 2011 at 8:10am

I love them, these crosses are oirignally from Mauritania. I just bought one from Sarah, strung it with Tuareg glass beads and Amber, it looks great, and I wear it, but it is smaller. The regions around Timbuktu are very much connected to Mauritania, and the Mauritanian style has been partly taken over in this Mali corner around Timbuktu. Many people in Timbuktu (Mali) have originally come from Mauritania (they call them there "the Hassanyia" (according to their language) and in earlier centuries even from Morocco. Hence in TImbuktu all those old Morocco-style doors (fantastic)! This pendant seems to be very old, very big and even bears Tuareg patterns, very interesting, very nice!!!
Eva Baby September 10, 2011 at 8:15am

Sorry, forgot to say: the form and type of the cross is Mauritanian, Berber, not Tuareg, but the decorations on it are Tuareg, so it might be a combination of these people. In Timbuktu the "Hassanyia" people (former Mauritanians) live near to the Tuareg, one knows each other well, etc... I have bought some wooden jewellery in TImbuktu by a Tuareg smith, but without doubt in the Mauritanian style... it seems to be a mix of styles... they even live similar there (the Tuareg and the Hassanyia), both keep camels, are originally nomads, have similar customs. The big difference between them is the language (Tamashek - Hassanyia Arab).
Ann Porteus September 10, 2011 at 12:10pm

Oh thank you Eva Lea,
I have spent a lot of time in Mali during the past 15 years but do tend to stay with friends in Segou and spend a little time in the north from Mopti up.
My main aim in the region is finding old Artefacts and so I always want to look after my very good contacts there. I have a very beautiful and even larger cross like this in my collection which I also wear. I love it but have always wondered about the story that I was given. Now it fits. Different story from the original but even better. You have explained the hybridization of the design for me.
Thank you so much.
Ann
Eva Baby September 10, 2011 at 1:01pm

@again me. Yes, it is a mix of styles! The drawings on the cross are surely Tuareg, the cross itself with the knobs is Moorish. You seem to have a great collection and a lot of experience in Mali. I have been there 6times, but I am since 10 years married to Malian from the north, and I have many family ties in Mali (in fact I am almost more connected to my Malian family than to my family here). However, when I was in Mali, I had not so much occasion to look for jewellery as I would have wanted (family duties... and travels kept me away from this). I hope you show us also the other one...! I did not have any such cross until shortly (bought it from Sarah here), but my Swiss friend with whom I went to Mali the first time in September 2000 (where I met my later husband to be), was given one like that (similar at least, but smaller) by her Mauritanian friend (who lives in Timbuktu). It is very interesting...!
Ethnic Embellishments April 12, 2014 at 7:59pm

Cordelia, Does this look familiar?
Ann Porteus April 12, 2014 at 10:49pm

You can see more in https://www.flickr.com/photos/40244630@N00/6132357618/in/photolist-...

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5785a old worn cross, ?Tuareg, Mali

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