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.

Levant? Amulets and Coin Necklace

Please ID this beauty. A necklace or pectoral of chains, old coins, silver-set ceramic beads, capped glass beads, and a central tube amulet. The coins range in date from 1624(!!!) to 1909, with the majority in the 1830s-40s. The 1624 coin is from Poland, a 1/4 Thaler from the reign of Sigismund III Vasa. The rest are Ottoman, and one abstract one unidentified. The overall feeling of this piece makes me think Levant, but I could be wrong and it is from elsewhere in the Ottoman world. Comments are most appreciated.Dimensions:163 grams
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Comments

  • Dear Lynn; A truly magnificent piece. I am 95% sure that this piece is originating from Iraqi Kurdistan. Everything speaks for it. I will post in a few minutes some Iraqi Kurdish pieces (they are museum pieces as you necklace) and you will see the similarities. By the way, I have also seen Indian and Russian coins on Iraqi Kurdish jewelry, hence, it is not unnatural to have also Polish coins in such a necklace. CONGRATULATIONS - A BEAUTIFUL FIND LYNN! With kind regards. Peter

  • Oh, by the way, I almost forgot, the blue/turquoise ceramic beads are of course against the evil eye and typically Kurdish-Iraqi. I have the same on one of my belts and a large one on my car key. I have received it from the dealer in Amman. I am sure that you know that protection against the evil eye must be given to you as a present in order to work. Evil eye protections, bought by you for yourself will not have a great effect... What would the world be without superstition... Peter

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  • fantastic piece. i love it a lot. we find also the blue pendants in iran and the pakista/afghan  Hazara wear it too

  • Dear Peter and Ait, thank you so much for your comments.  Peter, thank you in particular for your ID of the necklace -- I do see similarities of construction and overall feel with your beautiful Kurdish Iraqi pieces.  Peter, you should know that I would not have been able to recognize and purchase this without the wonderful examples of your collection.  There is only a little available in books from the broader region of the Levant and so your photos have really helped and inspired me.  And no, I did not know that evil eye protection only works as a gift!  Sometimes when people inquire about the jewelry I am wearing I tell them, "Well, you never know when you will need to deflect the evil eye."  :)  Thank you!

  • Beautiful necklace Lynn. Lovely components and apparently quite old. Amulet at the end looks very nice as well. Very good piece congratulations Lynn. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us.

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