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.
You need to be a member of Adorned Histories to add comments!
Request your copy of our newsletter.
If you would like to receive our newsletter
Comments
Full image for further info.
Very pretty box! Koran box?
Yes Qur'an box. There are a lot of them all over North Afica, some with enamel (morocco!) and a lot with gemstones or stones inlay.......some are real masterpieces.
Thanks! Does anyone have an image of the type of manuscript that would be inside this box?
Nice one, probably metal and for sure from Morocco, where they are the most common.
Originally these were made of embroidered velvet or highly worked leather, later they have been made in precious metals such as silver (and gold with precious stones for the well off/ and royal court) especially at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th when there was a huge fashion for these along with other bold and big jewelry such as belt buckles and big khamsas.
I shall add that even if they are commonly called "koran" boxes, they were actually used to carry a famous collection of prayers for Islamic prophet Muhammad, which was written by the Moroccan Sufi and Islamic Scholar Muhammad al-Jazuli (died 1465)
This religious work is called Dala'il al-Khayrat or Dalaail u'l Khayraat Wa Shawaariq u'l Anwaar Fee Zikri's Salaat Alan Nabiyyi'l Mukhtaar (meaning the Waymarks of Benefits and the Brilliant Burst of Sunshine in the Remembrance of Blessings on the Chosen Prophet)
The box itself is called in Morocco a DALIL in connection with the name of the manuscript it contains.
Boxes such as there were very famous in Morocco as well as in Turkey, same two countries where the religious book was highly reveered
I have already posted a ilver one hallmarked in Marrakech
Thanks Ayis! You are as always a fount of knowledge :)
Hi preethy. i think ayis wrote you the most important and good infos about your beautiful box. i can add just a small one about the the technic. it looks for me that this box is made from copper and brass smith more than a silver smith. copper and brass smith are more specialized in platts, tee/mint boxes,plates and all the rest of tableware. we can see it throw the tools used too. some times they are silver smith too or they work together.
it is a good and beautiful piece