Dutch ethnic necklace

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.

Dutch ethnic necklace

Posted by Joost Daalder on August 17, 2011 at 3:17am

Europeans also used to wear ethnic jewellery indicating their ethnic group, customs, beliefs, etc; but in large measure they have now come to wear pieces not bound to traditions in that way. Here is a necklace of a type that Volendam women may still wear for tourists, but which they also wore - as in the case of this example - before tourism became rampant. The coral is very characteristic in colour (strong, but not as deep as often in e.g. Morocco). The locket (which is commemorative) is also typical. This is one of the pieces which most Dutch people would most readily think of if asked whether they can think of an example of regional Dutch adornment.

Comments

Kathleen McCabe-Elsey August 17, 2011 at 6:09am

Beautiful Joost!
Johanne August 17, 2011 at 10:16am

Very pleased to see this Joost! Is there may be "hairwork" on the locket? a religious( Roman Catholic) image? These corals are my favorites!
Joost Daalder August 17, 2011 at 3:21pm

Hi Johanne, - Yes, there is a painted scene, and hair is used as well. Four angels, in gold, guard the corners of the clasp. The picture is that of a mourning brooch featuring a grave, with hair of the deceased person pasted over that grave. The main materials are gold and coral. The height of the necklace as shown is 18.5 cm, and that of the clasp is 3.7 cm (its width is 4.3 cm). First half 20th c is the likely date. I bought this, together with a Lalique brooch which cost a substantial but not HUGE sum (it is largely glass), with money my mother left me when she died, as the amount was not large enough for something really "important" but provided a great excuse for buying some good jewellery which I might not have bought in the ordinary course of events. My mother would, I am quite sure, have thoroughly approved of my spending the money that way. And Truus is happy too. And yes, the coral is fine and has a good colour. I must confess that in principle I'd love to buy more European ethnic jewellery, but it is not an easy thing to do, with so much having either disappeared or having gone into museums. At this moment I am not much in a buying mood anyway, and looking after retirement money!! Thanks so much for your interest! It is a very, very Dutch piece ...
Johanne August 19, 2011 at 11:18am

Hallo Joost, I can understand this nice piece is also special to you as a memory of your mother.

There are a lot of collectors of this kind of regional Dutch costume jewellery. Original complete pieces become scarce.

Often they are broken in pieces because of dividing a inheritance. To satisfy more family members they make brooches and smaller necklaces and bracelaces of it. And wearing the costume became out of fashion. Often a family sold it all to a jeweller for the gold and silver price.

I'm a bit shocked to see on"marktplaats.nl " internet marketplace people sell the nice golden headpieces and sometimes complete costumes of their grandmother!

I'm sure three of my great-grand mothers did wear regional costumes. Frisian or Groningen costume.

My mothers grand-mother was wearing a golden "oorijzer" in a shape of a helmet. It was under a lace cap, you could see the gold shine through . After her death in the 50's her daughters sold it to a jeweller to buy new jewellery. All that's left is a picture..

Gallery

Dutch ethnic necklace

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