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
Beautiful indeed, Frankie. Thanks for posting.
Frankie, now that this is in your possession, how does the blue enamel here compare with the Multan bracelet that you and I have been discussing? I'm curious....
I think I will find it interesting to compare the two as well, Hillary - when the other bracelet arrives!! Unless this bracelet has had some particularly rough treatment, the loss of enamel with this one would indicate that it is quite a bit the older of the two. Somehow I feel that I will always be fonder of this one.
I am fascinated by the resemblance of this one`s shape to some Omani bracelets (see Harald`s posting of a pair), which Marie-Ange alerted me to. It begs the question of whether this was originally imported into what is now Pakistan from Oman.
This truly is a rare find Frankie, it is beautiful!! I have been thinking of how it is possible this type also was found in Oman maybe the silversmith copied it and gave it his own special look by other decoration and enamel. In Oman they don't use the enamel so it was not made in Oman.
Sorry, because I knew what I was thinking, I assumed everyone else did!!
I was wondering if the bracelet had been imported into Pakistan without the enamel then enamelled there in the Multan area.
Amir, do you know?
I see from Harald`s identification of his Omani pair from Muscat, this style is called a moon bracelet. Marie-Ange, you may well be right in that this is a commonly recognised style anyway. This one from Amir has a more complex patterning on it which may not have originated from Oman either.
It does look great!!! And interesting to read the information in the comments.
If I remember my history lessons correctly, the northeastern part of the Arabian peninsula traded extensively with India (which was then the greater Subcontinent and would have included Pakistan), going back to antiquity. I'm sure that many similar jewelry designs can be found in both countries. As Ayis's essay informed us on the exchange of the flat/ rounded gold bead used as hair ornamentation in the Sahel and Sahara into a central bead/ pendant in Jewish jewelry from the Southern Oases in Morocco, we do see designs travel extensively.