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.

Azalagh n°1 Mauritania

Posted by marie jose Opper on May 7, 2012 at 6:27pm

Azalagh ( long necklace, length 100-120 cm). Beads are made of gum arabic, charcoal, incense, powdered cloves, and coloring. All ingredients are mixed with water to form a paste from which the beads are made. They are strung while still wet.Additional small white cubes made from Cyperus Rotondus have been added to the necklace. Cyperus Rotondus is an odoriferous bulb used to scent clothing and to ward off insects.

Comments

Toya May 7, 2012 at 7:42pm

Very beautiful.Thank you for posting these necklaces of scented beads. I have never seen anything like them before. Are these older ones, or are they still being made today?
Eva Baby May 7, 2012 at 10:53pm

Wonderful colours, thank you for the descritption, I wish we could smell them. Love it.
marie jose Opper May 8, 2012 at 4:25pm

Hello, Toya. All the necklaces were acquired some 15 years ago. These scented bead necklaces are still made today and come from an age old tradition.
Edith D May 8, 2012 at 11:01pm

Thanks for posting these! There are many different kinds of scented beads here in Tunisia, so it is interesting to see similar beads from elsewhere.
marie jose Opper May 10, 2012 at 7:15pm

Edith, tunisian Shkab is my favorite necklace.
Linda Pastorino May 18, 2012 at 10:28pm

I love these. Never found these for sale. Did you have these a long time now?