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.
You need to be a member of Adorned Histories to add comments!
Request your copy of our newsletter.
If you would like to receive our newsletter
Comments
Hi Ayis - that was quick! I have to confess I am somewhat confused as I go through the variuos buckles I have. I have one with a Star of David on it - the top appears to have been soldered more than once to the sides and bottom. That had me thinking it was not authentic. Also the sides are very worn, but the top is quite crisp.
The Marrakech buckle appears to be authentic, as does the lovely little one from Essaouira. Am I correct?
Then I have 2 others - the Essaouira, 1337 and another similar one I haven't put up, but will. The working on the centre medallion in the Essaouira 1337 looks crude, but the carving on the top looks more skilled. Am I correct.
I also have a question about hallmarks - if you can manufacture goo, can't you manufacture hallmarks?
One thing I know for sure - I am now swearing of cleaning beyond a simple polishing with a cloth.
Becky
there is not a single evidence that moroccan smiths have tried to forge early hallmarks, they even have never tried to imitate the regular ram's head wich was used until quite recently.
I bet that even if they try to manufacture hallmarks they will be for sure grossly made!!
Don't bother yourself too much, but IMHO all your other buckles seem to be genuine!
The one that created this polemic was really grossly made, but this is a personnal feeling.
A couple of years ago, i was in Morocco i was offered a pair of nielloed open bracelets, and the seller who was a very knwoledgeable and honest dealer sweared they were super old, but i was hesitant, the niello and everything was too perfect!
What this experience shows, is that there is still in morocco some very very skilled silversmiths and secondly that you have to be very careful about items that are "TOO"-something, matter of fact the next year , this same dealer told me that these bracelets turned out to be forged and he decided to get his money back from the intial seller!!
And lastly, even reputable dealers and merchants , are still being fooled , even after decades of working in the market