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.

Ouled Nail- late 19th century

I just love the headdresses! I'm curious as to whether this is a natural, ethnographic image or one that was posed and taken for touristic means. I'm leaning towards posed.
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Comments

  • Very weird setting indeed.

     

    The lady is holding a cigaret in her fingers, so there are great chances that this was shot in some coutryside brothel.

     

    She is actually wearing a double rowed "assaba" diadem, very common in eastern algeria and among the oulad nail, it has a hinge system probably developped through the ottoman influence ( same thing happened in morocco)

     

    The little girl is an oddity especially with the rich attire she is wearing , obviously as it appears from  her headress, it does not belong to her since it is too big.

     

    There is also some staging with the hand fan being exposed along with a coffe set and lastly the two central charachters are being framed by 2 black children( slaves?)

     

    Seems like some french visitors staged this picture as a souvenir for their little girl, nonetheless the lady wears genuine local adornment

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