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Comments

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  Marie-Ange August 16, 2011 at 10:19pm

  Hi Sarah,

  Can you check this Ebay bracelet if it is old or newly made?  I think price is very high?

  http://cgi.ebay.com/ANTIQUE-ORIGINAL-ENAMELED-SILVER-AFGANI-BRACELE...

   

  Thanks alot, M-A ;)
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  Alaa eddine SAGID August 17, 2011 at 12:26am

  Marie ange,

   

  if i can give my two cents.

   

  The bracelet on sale on ebay is indeed a kabyle production

  It is not new but not old either, i would say from the 80/90's

   

  Price is non sense, even if the seller does not state the exact weight (what is heavy??)

  Normally in Paris they sell for around 200 euros on flea markets or shops and are not offered on auction sales, being newish and not old

   

  I don't fnd it personally attractive.

   

  Cheers
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  SARAH CORBETT August 17, 2011 at 12:59am

  Hi Marie Ange.

  I would id them as Algerian, Algerian pieces are not my speciality.... However from general indicators such as style and patina I would agree that these are of no great age, and very overpriced.

   

   
• 

  Marie-Ange August 17, 2011 at 6:00am

  Hi Sarah and Ayis,

  This is what I thought, I am not atracted to it at all and was shocked by the price he is asking, poor person who buys it for this amount!

  Thanks alot, M-A ;)
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  Marie-Ange August 17, 2011 at 6:04am

  Another question, is most jewelry from Tiznit a reproduction??
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  SARAH CORBETT August 17, 2011 at 12:08pm

  The Jewish silversmithing of Tiznit was originally considered to be the very finest in Morocco.  There were also very active and wonderful silversmithing workshops in Tafroute and other anti atlas places.

  As the work of the silversmiths catered gradulally more for the emerging tourist marketplace the goods being made changed. Kabyle commands a very high price, and is desired by many, so the slight change of style from a trad Berber enamelled piece to a repro of a Kabyle was'nt too difficult to achieve, yet the returns were reaped. The jewish silversmiths departed leaving a depleted skills set, the work continued, but often the quality declined. 

   

  There is now a silversmithing workshop which can be visited in Tiznit ( Maybe more than one!) A guide takes tourists there...The spaces for the traditional smiths are set up..there are never silversmiths there working.  The guide will say that it is prayer time, or a religios holiday today. or lunchtime!! The guide will then pick up pieces from the workbench....( always a dusty space which cannot have been used of late!) to show the beautiful craftsmanship. Invariably the piece will be an import from the east of Indian or Balinese work! The gift shop of the same is just nearby to sell to the unsuspecting.  The prices... upwards of 70dh per gram!

   

  The remnants of a rich jewel history still cling to Tiznit, but there is little or no silversmithing there to my awareness..

  I have however met craftsmen in Agadir who make beautiful pieces.. In traditional styles. 

  Sx
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  Marie-Ange August 17, 2011 at 12:40pm

  Hi Sarah,

  Thanks alot for your explaination and I must say it sounds very sad that a tradition has gone almost lost now because of tourist market...

  Also sad tourists are beeing tricked into this with overpriced jewelry.

  Indeed I saw alot of Indian silverwork in Marrakech in some shops that was beeing sold as traditional Moroccan!!

  Thank you very much for this update very informative for me.

  M-A ;)
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  SARAH CORBETT August 17, 2011 at 12:44pm

  The Misinformation unfortunately is common ...many vendors however do not know that the stock that is provided for them to sell is not form Morocco....others however do!!