Gallery

Comments

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  Joost Daalder September 28, 2010 at 2:50pm

  Very classy!
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  Linda Pastorino September 28, 2010 at 2:59pm

  I wear these all the time..
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  Nancy T. Hernandez August 24, 2011 at 12:11am

  As these bracelets are from North Afghanistan, the influence is most likely Uzbeki, not Pakistani.
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  Joost Daalder August 24, 2011 at 1:51am

  I beg to differ, Nancy. In terms of geography, five countries would, on your logic, qualify, and amongst them Uzbekistan is stylistically a very unlikely choice. There are many fine bracelets similar to these which are, in fact, Afghani/Pakistani, notably Pashtun. See e.g. *A World of Bracelets*, p. 159, for something very closely similar, which is Pashtun.
  
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  Joost Daalder August 24, 2011 at 2:00am

  As Wikipedia points out, the Pashtun are an ethnic group "with populations primarily in Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan". I imagine Linda may have had this in mind when describing these on the one hand as Pakistani and on the other hand as from North Afghanistan. Open work is typical for Pashtun jewellery, as also in the example I referred to in my previous post, of an almost identical nature.
  
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  Linda Pastorino August 24, 2011 at 5:47pm

  These are either from North Afghanistan or Pakistan and are not Uzbeki. They have been published in many books attesting to this. A good book on the subject is Schumuck in Afghanistan by Janata.  I have just purchased a small cuff that has beautiful open work which is from either of same areas I will list shortly.
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  Joost Daalder August 24, 2011 at 9:29pm

  Quite so, Linda: the Afghani/Pakistani nature of these excellent bangles is truly not a matter for dispute, and very well recognised. I was very surprised to see Uzbekistan even mentioned in this context. Not only is there no hint of anything Uzbeki, but the identification is so easy, as the origin of these pieces is, as you say, attested to in many places - I agree with you  about the high standing of the Janata book, for example. Will look forward to the open-work cuff you are about to post. Which reminds me: what happened to the Moroccan piece with the nielloed discs which you were going to show us? I'd still like to see it if you have the chance! Hope you are keeping well.