Anklets - Oman - Gallery - Adorned Histories

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Anklets - Oman

Posted by Peter Hoesli on January 14, 2016 at 4:27pm

These anklets are super heavy 1750 grams together! Furthermore, the pattern is rather unusual and very intricate.

Comments

TD January 14, 2016 at 8:46pm

Extremely beautiful pair. Another great addition to your collection. They remind me of the Indian pair that Michael Backman had for sale some time ago. If interest, you can see the pair here ~ Large Silver Hinged Anklets
Peter Hoesli January 14, 2016 at 9:24pm

Many thanks for your message. I have only one anklet, same as the pair, offered for sale by Mr. Bachmann. This is a very rare pattern. However, the weight of the pair combined is as much as one of my anklets is weighing. The origin of these anklets is actually Baluchistan. The wives of expatriates, who worked in Oman in the 19th Century, brought them along to Oman and they continued to travel to Zanzibar, which used to be the capital of Oman during the middle of the 19th Century. Hence, the actual origin of these anklets is India/Pakistan - Baluchistan. With kind regards. Peter
Betty January 14, 2016 at 9:51pm

Extremely beautiful work, but certainly quite cumbersome to wear... :)

Thanks for sharing these pieces of art with us, Peter.
TD January 14, 2016 at 9:53pm

Wonderful additional information. From my personal collection of old African postcards, I have got two postcards from Zanzibar, showing Swahili women wearing such anklets. The photos were taken by DV Figueira, in the early 1900s.There is also a picture of Princess Bibi, sultane, taken in the Comoros by Léon Humblot, in the late 19th century, where she is wearing these types of anklets, although the anklets are a bit hidden by her trousers. The link to this lower photo can be found here
Peter Hoesli January 14, 2016 at 10:00pm

These are great photos - many thanks for sharing! I just love this kind of very heavy jewelry. Because they are heavy and intricate, featuring a rather unusual pattern, they belonged to a member of a fancy and rich family, who had the means to have them manufactured with their own desig taste. With kind regards. Peter
Tesori Orientali January 15, 2016 at 4:39am

A splendor !!!…Angelo
Preethi January 15, 2016 at 9:43am

What a fabulous pair!