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.

Antique Moroccan Khamsa

large engraved silver khamsa with three stones, 10.5 centimeters tall
Read more…
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • The zngraving is top notch similar to that applied to gold jewelry.

    The black marks surrounding cabs means that they are a later addition but possibly and old one
  • Ayis, I think the top cab is added more recently than the two bottom ones. The bezel is different than the other two, which look older. I love the intricate engraving on this.

  • Hi toya, would it be possible to see a pic of the back please?
    It looks to me to be a Marrakech / essaourian style, however the two lower cabachons are very unusual.
    To my eye , the top cabachons is more likely to be original from a style based observation , however I don't. Have the joy do handling the piece as you do to teach me the finer nuances.
    I particularly like the trefoil design to the bail.
    The etching is as Ayis previously commented very fine too.
    I would love to know how you display your khamsas, and whether you wear certain ones or just a few....
  • Thank you for your comments Sarah. I will take more pictures of the back shortly. There is one pic of the back hallmark already posted. As to the question about how I display my khamsas, I keep a bowl full of the ones I wear most often and two chains of different lengths to put them on. Before I go out I choose the one to wear and put it on the chain. Others are hung on the wall. A few fragile ones are kept in a box. I find myself looking at them every day and this gives me great joy and peace.

  • Having seen the pic of the back which I missed earlier, I feel that this is a Marakshi piece with the second two lower stones added at a later date...

    Date mark is for 1925

This reply was deleted.

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

Join Adorned Histories

Request your copy of our newsletter.

If you would like to receive our newsletter

Click here