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.

Bulgarian bracelet A side

silver gilt and enamel bracelet from Bulgaria 18th c
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Comments

  • A very interesting piece indeed. Good to see that posted.

  • Such a good example! It`s almost unknown to see them in this condition.

  • Hi that's why I purchsed this. Normally they are all coroded. this has enameling on it.  This came from Bulgaria by way of Ireland then to me!

  • Hey, that was a good journey!

    I have a couple with some gilding and enamel left and a with some fixable damage (in my photos here). It amuses me to see the descriptions they sometimes get. Like from the crusaders and even mongolian!

  • Your photos didn't post here in this feed?  they are rather achaic shape and I believe have been made thi way since ancient times same. Some of them could be quite old perhaps.

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  • Here they are, Linda.2463503553?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

  • The photos below seem to make it look as though there`s more gilding than there really is - it`s due to the light they`re in. Mostly it`s the silver (low grade if not a metal alloy) that can be seen. But there are bits of it along with a rather typically light green enamel. Yours looks darker so maybe older or newer. I think now they`re two photos of the same bangle. I can`t show the other - I`ve no photo it seems and they`re both in my Bulgarian cottage right now and I`m in the UK! You can see where the inside has come slightly detached from the outside.

  • what is different from yours to mine is that yours seems to be hammored into the shapes. See side to me seems like large ball shapes are repouse hammered. Mine has additinal globs or granules added. I see in the book many ways of  making them. Not sure if just difference in area and workmanship or age ? There are some in book that are very fancy and have inlay work, very beautiful.. I would like to find one of those. I think some how this shape is very archaic and early looking. Unchanged since ancient times.

  • I do see ones that are made more the way yours is, just not in as good condition. Mine are of lesser quality. Never seen the inlay ones, they`re probably all in museums. What are they inlaid with. I don`t think there`s one museum in Bulgaria that specialises in their historic jewellery but I`ll ask around. The book sounds really useful - will try to get it sometime when I`m richer!. I agree about the feel of the shape. Certainly it`s been used over centuries. It almost feels barbaric. Although it`s been customary to call them ottoman, I think the design predates ottoman hegemony and that it developed indigenously over quite a wide area and over a long time. But probably a lot of people would think I`m out on a limb with that.

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