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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Yes, these are Uzbei through and through, and great bracelets these are. Certainly I'd be a very happy and proud owner of these if I had them - they are most pleasing. But one cannot and need not have everything, so long as one can SEE good pieces. And that is certainly so here - they are excellent and they so far "make my day". Thanks so much for posting.
I sold many varieties of these types of cuffs. some with finger rings also.
These by the way come into the category of made by ? for ? because this style I have sold in many textures. I'm going to be categorizing groups soon as I want to start pinnning down my reseearch.
this is the mosaic style having those bosses.
same type of shape in enamel style
same shape with granulation bump no stone style relates to big pieces that are huge
same shape with wire work style.
Again this style of bracelet never seen in any book on Uzbek jewelry that I have from any Russian publication or museum printing. I have a dozen at least from all periods of time.
I wish you much luck in your efforts to categorise the various types, but I think it will be difficult, as there is so little authoritative information about the full range of them - of which you have probably seen more than most people seriously interested in this material. Here is one example of a pair you will remember as posted not long ago by Michel Halter. I recall our both questioning his idea that they were made for men. But that is in a way a side issue: they are good armbands, and as such you may want to have them posted here. I re-posted them just now on our Ethnic Jewellery and Adornment page on Facebook (where I have also re-posted some of the great pieces you have been showing us here). This is Michel's pair: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ETHNIC-JEWELLERY-AND-ADORNMENT/365830.... And I do like them, too.
Someone asked me a question about these on Facebook. In response, I have suggested that these armbands are here actually shown upside down. In other words, the armbands were worn so that something could be attached to the BOTTOM. *A World of Bracelets*, p. 157, shows just how that was done. To begin with, there was an elegant "plate" attached to the little ring, and that plate covered the back of the hand. Next, chains were attached to the end of that plate, with a ring for each finger including the thumb. (In wearing the elaborate ornament, one would no doubt first of all put one's fingers into the rings.) An example of the excessively refined and elaborate taste shown by Uzbeki aristocracy in the second half of the 19th century! I imagine that not many of these highly elaborate constructs would have survived intact, and I do think that the Ghysels are lucky, and deserve congratulations, for having an example ...
That is correct but I put them in my photo the way most people I sell to including myself woudl wear them because the point actually hangs down and would interfer with hand and in this way as a marketing issue the point is up on top like a finial and helps better sell it rather than it looking as if something is missing. I do tell that the rings are not there but the clients know that. In some cases when I sell to collectors that don't wear then it is ok to show in other direction but since I take photos to benefit a host of various clients then I choose this direction. I did sell a pair with rings and so I have a photo like that too. I sold two pairs actually like that.
Sure, in the absence of everything that would originally have gone with them, noone would now wear them in any other way than the one you have suggested. However, not everyone would at once realise from the image that originally these were worn the other way round, and I was - very understandably, I think! - questioned about what was clearly perceived to be puzzling. Hence my explanation, and I thought it should be added here too, as I don't think that many people would at once realise that the little rings were originally actually used, and in the opposite direction, at that. Aesthetically, they look more "complete" this way (i.e. your way) - so much so that one would hardly realise that each armband here shown was actually only part of a far more elaborate contraption. For myself I'd love a complete set! But they are still very successful if viewed as armbands on their own, the way you are displaying them.
Interestingly trying to find the original photos of the rings on the sets. i had two that came in and couldn't sell well because of it and then collectors came and got them however without sell much easier to most. I have un earthed some good earlier photos of items that are on cd drive disks and been having fun looking back at things sold before. Found a great photo of myself and Coral in red square as a baby! cute.
Keep up the good work, I'd say!