Gallery

Comments

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  Stefany Tomalin July 7, 2011 at 1:05pm

  this is stitched onto a canvas strip base- 9cm wide (3.1/2") from loop to loop is 52cm long, (20.1/2") with areas of magenta-coloured silk. the "gems" are glass and garnet, the backing is plain beige linen or cotton.

   
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  SARAH CORBETT July 7, 2011 at 1:40pm

  Hi Stefany,

  This is a wedding headdress from the north east of Morocco. It is a citadel (city) piece and is very different from the Berber rural pieces

  My first impression tells me that it may be from Rabat /Sale. It is a  jewish piece and would be worn by a bride in around 1930.  The wear and workmanship look to be genuine and of this timescale......of course there is no substitute for seeing a piece first hand!

  I would like to see a pic of the back of the piece.

  I shall post an image of such a piece being worn in a few moments...

   

  Warmest wishes

  Sarah
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  SARAH CORBETT July 7, 2011 at 1:44pm

  https://ethnicjewels.ning.com/photo/bride-rabat-sale-193437?context=...

   

  link to photo

  Sx 
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  Stefany Tomalin July 7, 2011 at 3:25pm

  i have "Folk Jewelry of the World" by Ger Daniels which shows a drawn illustration which might have been copied from the photo you show! picture 171 on p. 157. that's the only reference material i was ever able to find.i suppose it is a rather unusual piece.
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  SARAH CORBETT July 7, 2011 at 3:29pm

  several similar pieces are shown in costumes et parures du maroc by Raschida Alaoui

  I sometimes see them on offer in Morocco, but they are becoming scarce.
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  Stefany Tomalin July 7, 2011 at 4:05pm

  thanks for the responses-

  sarah if you were coming to Whitby for the BSGB AGM i would bring it to show-
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  SARAH CORBETT July 7, 2011 at 4:08pm

  Sadly, I won't be able to make it to Whitby.

  Without seeing a piece restoration or anomilies can be tricky to spot. at first look it seems fine. I would be interested to hear Ayis' thoughts.

  Warm wishes

  Sarah
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  Alaa eddine SAGID July 7, 2011 at 5:50pm

  Right on Sarah, this is a very nice example of the bridal headress from Fes/Sale (and as matter of fact Rabat as well) urban area.

   

  I might add that it was worn by jewish and muslim brides alike, but i am somehow inclined that this very one was a jewish heirloom.

   

  Being a piece that was not very often worn, one is not surprised by its near to perfect condition (a part from the minor tear on the velvet fabric)

   

  Usually there is 5 jewelled   and gilded plates as is the case here and two others at the edges with the attaching rings.

   

  There is only one thing wich annoys me, it is the pearl threadingdifference at both edges, if carefully inspected one can see the difference in colour and stitching design between the central part pearls and those at both edges.

   

  But then one can guess that these heirlooms were rearranged through the time following new trends and as new damage would need fixing.

  Obviously the edges plates (non jewelled) are much older than the others and the pink garnets vere a much later addition.

   

  All in all this a piece that would not be as old as that pictured in the postcard posted by Sarah and would probably date from around mid 20th century (pre independance)

   

  I would also love to have a picture of the backside and i am very curious about where it was purchased , maybe there is story attached to that piece that Stefany would know of.

   
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  Alaa eddine SAGID July 7, 2011 at 5:52pm

  and is it for sale ?
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  SARAH CORBETT July 7, 2011 at 8:38pm

  the two outer cabachons also seem to feature glass of later manufacture..This isn't so unusual, the piece may have been added to over time.

  All in all still a very attractive piece.

  warm wishes

  S x