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
whatever it is ( do not know, a belt or a collar ?) it looks absolutely gorgeous!!!!
Worn as a headband.
@Thanks Edith, beautiful!
Fishes are definetely ubiquitous in Tunisian arts, here they are wonderfully highlighted, yet remaining discreet
The more you post about tunisian jewelry, the more i am convinced that this country had pretty kept its traditions alive, and succeded in preserving its adornment biodiversity!!
In algeria it has disappeared long ago, and in Morocco only the traditions of the city of FEZ have managed to survive and be adopted as a national model (due to the big influence of the royal court and the fes city dwellers who are the economical and cultural elite!!)
How do you explain such a living diversity in a very small and westernized country?
Is there any "wedding arrangers" in tunisia similar to the moroccan ones, providing the expensive heavy gold old jewelry and silk brocades that no regular girl can afford to buy?
Hi Ayis: The truth is that the traditional wedding costumes have almost disappeared in some Tunisian cities, including Tunis, Bizerte, and Sfax. The traditional clothing has survived very well along the western coast from Nabeul to Mahdia, Djerba and the south. The commercial and social structures have contributed to preservation of the costumes. In places like Hammamet and Moknine, many women owned businesses supply traditional wedding costumes and in Mahdia there is an elaborate lending system for the jewelry which is secret and avoids "wasta." I was very encouraged to see the market this week in Moknine. There seems to be an active cottage industry that produces costumes. Women who no longer work in the home can now pay someone else to produce what was once produced by the bride herself and her family.
That is very nice - not least considering that it is recent work. Has the qualities that you associate with traditional jewellery!