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.

A small survivor

Posted by Thelma on May 29, 2014 at 5:07pm

Despite suffering from dents and dings and losses, this small asyk has survived since the nineteenth century. Possibly Ersari, but more likely Saryk, given the filigree, it is bounded, divided and crossed by gallery wire, has two soldered-on silver discs and a suspension tube that looks like a badly rolled cigarette. 11.x7.5cms.

Comments

Thelma May 29, 2014 at 5:20pm

This is quite a small piece. I will try to post a picture which better shows its size. It was described as a dorsal asyk given by a mother-in-law to her son's bride and, in this, way passed on down the family. But I wonder. It is much smaller than many other dorsal asyks
Betty May 29, 2014 at 5:48pm

I think, the dings and dents make it all the more loveable, Thelma!

Is it common to find engraved stones/glas in asyks?
Eva Baby May 29, 2014 at 6:12pm

what a Beauty! I am not generally an Asyk fan, but this one Looks stunning!
Anna Garner May 29, 2014 at 6:17pm

Betty, I have (or had?) an asyk with engraved stones (or glass? resin?) on it. I believe it, too, was Ersari if I remember correctly. I have sold several asyks from my collection, so I don't remember all the details. ;)
Anna
Thelma May 29, 2014 at 6:52pm

Thanks Eva. I think the two silver studs, which look like eyes (perhaps that was intended) make it look as if it's 'on guard'.
Eva Baby May 29, 2014 at 6:55pm

Yes, I agree, they look like eyes!
Thelma May 29, 2014 at 6:58pm

Thanks Betty and Anna. The stones are old glass, and the bead with the intaglio carving is a 'hajj' bead which you were entitled to wear if you had been on a pilgrimage. I wish I knew what it says.... Another type of 'hajj' bead has a carving of the crescent moon and stars. It looks, from the damage to the bezel, as if it is possible that the bead has replaced an earlier stone ...
Anna Garner May 29, 2014 at 7:07pm

Oh, thanks for all the information, Thelma. The hajj bead probably reads as Allahu Akbar… Allah is Great! My asyk that has the inscribed glass also shows the crescent and stars.
Thelma May 29, 2014 at 7:43pm

Yes, I remember the asyk well and the stars and crescent moon stones. Joost and Truus Daalder have a guljaka in their book which also has a stone with the same pattern. It adds to the history of the piece :)). It's interesting how these Islamic beads are embedded in these tribal artifacts.
Thelma May 29, 2014 at 8:31pm

Scrolling through the Ethnic Adornment website, I found more of these hajj beads in the form of a necklace. See http://www.ethnicadornment.com/product/islamic-hajj-trade-beads-nec...