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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Comments
that Looks really spectacular! like the idea of the birds and Butterfly vibrating. Wonderful!. I particularly like all the hair stuff, (I do not know why, I am the one who collects especially Ethiopian hairpins). But I have to Limit my collecting on the Ethiopian hairpins......... if I collected them all, it would be too much (especially with all the incredible Chinese and Japanese hairpins)........and Sri Lanka, etc.etc. Very nice item, and nice to know that the Bulgarians had this type of Thing too.
I can only agree with Eva, Peter!
This is a fantastic comb. How old do you think it is? It looks more like it was worn by a well-to-do lady than as a part of a traditional costume. The vibrating elements remind me also of some head-pieces that used the be worn in the region where I live now. However, they are a lot less sophisticated and more flimsy. Still the effect is great. So I can imagine how stunning this comb must have looked! Regards, Betty
Dear Betty and Eva; Many thanks for your comments - much appreciated. I was told that this comb is dating back to the middle of the 19th Century. I too, assume that it was worn by a lady of the upper class somewhere in Sofia or similar. I will however, ask my friend in Sofia the next time. I am getting now eager to know as well. With kind regards and best wishes. Peter
Vibrating elements are very "rennaissance" or post rennaissance french/italian delicacies.....i quite find them in Northern Morocco and Algeria around late 19th and early 2à th century in the local adrnment traditions!
Ofter in gold or silver and jeweled with rose cut diamonds (sometimes rhinestones)
The iconography on this comb/crown is startling and again is similar to some very peculiar crowns i have seen made in gold from the northern most part of Morocco; birds with a butterfly!
i do believe there is obviously a mediterranean connexion through either Italian or jewish merchants...i often find this on jewelry coming from trade ports i North africa as if the local elites were directly importing their day to day fashion along with the regular goods they were trading in.
A fascinating study object!
Thanx for sharing and congrats for this inspiring piece!
Another interesting feature are all the little cut pieces seen on it as triangular textures. i have several pieces of jewelry that i have yet to figure out and I'm thinking must all be from this part of the world. They exhibit a kind of ottoman influence, they have a certain combination of Islamic, European styling as well all have these pieces.. what do you think?
I have two more large silver disks with the cut outs all over they were buttons or something very large no enameling and covered with those cut outs.
Dear Linda; Many thanks for your message. I see that you have been busy last night looking at all the beautiful items on EJ. Great, because I value your professional expertise a lot! I have seen enamel on very old (beginning of 19th Century) Bulgarian necklaces. In fact, I have just purchased one from Bulgaria, which is featuring Mercury gold plating and dark green enamel, which is in a very good condition (I will post a photo once I receive it sometime in February. Also, I have another Bulgarian belt buckle, made out of copper, which is originating from the 18th Century, featuring colorful enamel. I am attaching the corresponding photo of this buckle for your information. However, comparing your buttons with my jewelry, I believe that your items were manufactured more north, hence, somewhere in the Russian region (Russia had always a big influence on Bulgaria).
Peter
The other two items I have (one shown here ) are these buttons also, never understood where they are from either.
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