Gallery

Comments

• 

  SARAH CORBETT August 16, 2011 at 4:08pm

  this keyhole shape mystifies me!

  the altenating 'tombstone' 'breast' configuration has been discussed, bit isn't familiar to me in Moroccan pieces...

  What date / town of manufacture would you attribute to this one out of interest Linda?
• 

  SARAH CORBETT August 16, 2011 at 4:09pm

  also can we see the coins and their hanging bails if possible please.

  Thanks

  S x
• 

  Alaa eddine SAGID August 16, 2011 at 4:34pm

  Ohhh, LInda, you are killing me.

   

  This is the same bracelet pictured on sarah's closeup!

   

  Very old and surely made by a TAHALA jew for local jewish ladies!

   

  W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L
• 

  Patricia Deany August 16, 2011 at 5:48pm

  The keyholes are different shapes. Note the light blue enamel here. If Sarah's calculations are correct insofar as enamel is concerned, this would make the bracelet vintage, rather than antique. I have actually seen one of these -- and it looked old-- sold on ebay, much too expensive for me! This also resembles the pair that we saw in the mean guy's shop in Essouaria, although we never concluded whether they were really old.
• 

  Alaa eddine SAGID August 16, 2011 at 5:52pm

  see how the exposed enamel has been worn in contrast to that liying in between raised volumes

   

  An additonal thing is the colour of the silver wich is very common on older pieces
• 

  SARAH CORBETT August 16, 2011 at 7:08pm

   I associate the paler blue with the pre 1930's era.
• 

  SARAH CORBETT August 16, 2011 at 7:12pm

  Ha Ha Patti, I don't think you will ever forget how rude that guy was... I think the bracelets which I recall from his shop were different to these. but there were a few sets there, and I was focussed on what an oddity the wormhole cuffs were....the ones he would not like to let us see because he was sure we could nt afford them!

   
• 

  SARAH CORBETT August 16, 2011 at 7:19pm

  Thanks for mentioning Tahala...This confirms my thinking that these are not of Tiznit....what is your thinking re the uniformity of quality of the enamelling. 

  These are very exciting, as I only ever saw the alternated design such as this in the picture which I have cropped and posted. It is wonderful that this one survives.

  I do however wonder if a little restoration or even restyling has taken place in the 1950's ...My reasoning is this...the quality of the green enamel looks different to the other colours.  I may be wrong, but the green has a tinge of later glass and a certain quality of enamel made from post 1930's glass....It is a difficult thing to explain, and as you confirm this is likely a rurally made piece rather than a tiznit piece ( and all the more exciting for it) which may explain the pitted surface to the enamel......which ever is the case, it has me pondering it's history!

  Shall continue to study and ponder!!

  S x
• 

  Alaa eddine SAGID August 16, 2011 at 7:40pm

  When these bracelets were made, tiznit wasn't big enough to attract renowned smiths.

   

  This bracelt IMO is very old and very few of this quality remain, jerusalem museum, paris quai branly museum... and i have been seeing a beautiful pair on dispaly for years now at the antique shop " La lampe d'aladin" in Semmarine , Marrakech.

   

  I don't think this bracelet has never been restored,

   

  As for this very style from Tahala , it has been prooved by "jean besancenot" 1930's account that  the holes were used to put scented wool inside, a statement i have never heard about the ait ouaouzguit bracelets but theorically it could be also the case

   

   
• 

  Suzan Kaplan August 16, 2011 at 10:30pm

  This bracelet takes my breath away!