Balkan Necklace 1

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Balkan Necklace 1

Posted by Johanne on January 17, 2013 at 12:53pm

Probably Bulgarian? Bronze/brass. Glass stones.Length: 36 cm/14 inchesHigh: 14 cm/6 inches19th C/begin of 20th CTwo dangles enameled blue

Comments

howah January 17, 2013 at 1:21pm

Very likely Bulgarian. I believe I have seen an similar choker in one of my books about Bulgarian folk art. Will look in my books tonight and let you know. in any case, it is a very beautiful piece. I'm envious!
Johanne January 17, 2013 at 1:57pm

Thanks for your comment. Found this necklace in "Primitive and Folk jewelry" by Martin Gerlach on page 3 as Bulgarian (Sofia), a similar kind of necklace (incomplete) on page 123 as Bosnian Woman's jewelry...?

I'm not sure about the age..
Jose M. Pery January 17, 2013 at 2:16pm

I know very little about pieces from that area but I see an Ottoman influence. The big dangles have the shape of tulips (the national flower of Turkey, cradle of the Ottoman empire)....
Marie-Ange January 17, 2013 at 7:02pm

Very lovely, great find!
howah January 17, 2013 at 7:23pm
howah January 17, 2013 at 7:26pm

HI Johanne, these are 2 photos of similar chokers I could find in my books on Bulgarian Folk Art. So your assumption that it is from Bulgaria is quite correct, though ofcourse similar ones could also have been worn by women from neighbouring countries/peoples.
Marie-Ange January 17, 2013 at 8:09pm

wow it looks very similar to the piece in the book!
ait ouakli January 17, 2013 at 8:16pm

nice piece
Johanne January 17, 2013 at 9:17pm

Thanks Jose, Marie-Ange, Howah and Ait for the nice comments!

Wonderful Howah, you've found pictures with similar chokers! Did the book say something about the age? The pictures I've found are from before 1906. Because of that I think it is a 19th C. item.
Frankie Carter January 17, 2013 at 10:38pm

That`s the Real Deal, Johanne - lovely!

Almost certainly Bulgarian craftsmanship whilst under Ottoman rule. A really nice folk piece. The bracelets of that era are frequently found, often by metal detector. It`s refreshing to see a necklace. And it`s pretty complete, too. I would say it dates from the end of the 19th C.

Can I be really cheeky and ask where you found it? Just a vague idea.

Gallery

Balkan Necklace 1

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