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.

Oiseau

This bird pin was for sale in a Mahdia bijouterie. A stunning high-quality example of chichkhan, the price exceeded 5000TD. This type of brooch has been used historically in Tunisia and is derived from European influences.
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Comments

  • A nice story! Influence from Europe to be seen in this piece of Tunesian jewelry is very interesting. Lately I saw pictures of jewelry from the Toutcouleur in Senegal. These brooches were made like flower baskets

    (with flowers). they looked a lot like their European "look a likes" that influenced the Toutcouleur gold smith's.

  • It is stuning than ih a such small country (compared to morocco and algeria) so many styles thrived and existed side by side, berber bold silver jewelry, urban mediavel andalucia influenced gold and finally colonial era european diamond studded delicacies like this bird.

    Again a  wonderful live report Edith.thank you

  • One of the loveliest contributions to this site!

  • Thanx Patti for unearthing the souvenir of this piece!!

    @ Edith is that blue enamel ? Just noticing it!!

  • Thanks, yes it is blue enamel.  The blue colored enamel was very popular on European stlye diamond encrusted pendants and pins.  These types of pins were used in Tunisia for a long time, and appear in Eudel's 1901 treatise on North African jewelry.  Similarly flamboyant pendants were also made in floral patterns (the most elaborate of these depicted a large spray of flowers, and was called a "riche").  My impression is that these were often worn on a turban or chicheh hat.

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