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.
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Linda, this reminds me a lot of Levantine work.
I have no idea really where it from. I thought perhaps it was Eastern European but anyone's guess. It is very old and very good silver.
Linda, - At a guess - and it really is absolutely no more - I would like Hillary rather look in the direction of Asia Minor/the Middle East than Europe, or if it is European then I feel there is strong Oriental influence. But I cannot really properly substatiate or intellectualise that sense, and it may be quite wrong. I can also see why you would come to think of it as European. All of which may suggest we are at present looking within a very large area, but also excluding most of the rest of the world!!
With that star so prominent, could it be an example of Judaica, I wonder??
Hi Joost, this is a seven-pointed star, so I don't think that points to Judaica (the star of David has 6 points). THe little granulated rosettes remind me of both Yemeni and Indian work, though I still feel this is Levantine.
Quite right, Hillary, I did overlook the number of stars! We do converge in thinking of the Orient as important, rather than Europe (or just Europe), and yes, I too see echoes of things Indian and Yemeni. I have no inherent problem with the Levant, as I have already confirmed - but can we find anything that would clinch that specifically?
It would be interesting to find out, as, with more familiarity, the piece grows on one - it's really quite good, with a fantastic back.
In all the years I have had this I never noticed the star... talk about observant? ! I have two of them by the way! I got them at the same time.
Ha ha! It only now occurs to me that you can also look at the photo in such a way as NOT to see the star, previously I had not even thought of the ambiguity which led you not to see it. But I think its presence cannot be an accident, and one would think it must have a symbolic meaning. The question would be what, and in which culture.