Mystery collar - FOR SALE! - Gallery

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Mystery collar - FOR SALE!

Posted by Savanna Caravan on July 9, 2011 at 11:44am

Lots of dialogue about this one - perhaps a film prop! Found in Ouzazoute. Smells like an African wood fire.

Comments

Joost Daalder July 9, 2011 at 1:19pm

Interesting.
Savanna Caravan July 9, 2011 at 1:29pm

Joost - where do you think this comes from? Certainly from a Kraal as it smells strongly of fires! The leather work is very well worn, thick yet soft. Sarah thought it may be Nubian, but I can't find anything that resembles it. The long beads are glass, believe it or not .. it shimmers like peacock feathers. The red beads are also old glass, and the edging beads are whitehearts. It's huge - shoulder to shoulder, completely covering the chest.
Joost Daalder July 9, 2011 at 3:17pm

It does seem quite "African" to me, but I dare not guess from where. I must honestly explain that I feel quite at home with some regions in Africa, but not at all with others. I shall have a look, though, and if I can find out, I shall let you know! It does interest me, and I can quite understand your buying it.
SARAH CORBETT July 9, 2011 at 3:51pm

Hi Sue,

I would love to know more about your mystery piece...I would have purchased this one had you not from those two lovely traders! What a mindblowing day we all had!! Do you have any close up pics of the beads please..this may help me to help with researching it....Wherever it is from I would love to wear it to a party! despite the wood smoke smell.....although maye there is a clue there too......S x
Ethnic Embellishments July 10, 2011 at 2:58am

Was this perchance purchased in Ouarzazate?
Savanna Caravan July 10, 2011 at 3:03am

YES!!! What a sleuth you are ... from the twins! Did you see it there? We almost had a bunfight over it.
Ethnic Embellishments July 10, 2011 at 3:16am

I did not see it there at all but rather I have a suspicion that this is not really ethnic at all but rather a prop from one of the hundreds of Egyptian and ancient Middle Eastern movies that have been filmed in the area. The darker resin on the beads looks like things I've seen before to make things look older. Again, it's hard to say, but I suspect that you MAY have a movie prop in your possession! Very neat piece indeed! It looks like the stereotypical ancient Egyptian style pectoral collars. I'd love to see more close-ups of the leather part and all of the beads.
Savanna Caravan July 10, 2011 at 3:21am

How fascinating! I'll so some closeups shortly and post. If it is a prop, I love the fact that it smells like a lion has been killed for the collar, and then cooked over a dung fire! There is a closeup of beads in another shot already.
Joost Daalder July 10, 2011 at 3:35am

What a wonderful thought, Hillary. Well ... it is interesting in any case, and you can regard it, Savanna, as a nicely CONSTRUCTED "ethnic" piece. There is room for all sorts of things, even in an ethnic jewellery collection or inventory! I must admit, this would explain much!
Savanna Caravan July 10, 2011 at 4:47am

I've made pieces similar to this in my shop out of "faience" .... what a labour of love. This necklace would have taken a few days to assemble. I suppose there would have been a million "slaves" to make pieces like this ... even for a movie! It's quite oily sticky ... So many unanswered questions. I had a closer look at the beads on the rim of the necklace, and they are not whitehearts. ;-(