Gallery

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.

Photo of a Jewish Lady from Djerba

Posted by Edith D on February 20, 2013 at 9:09pm

This photo was taken by Frank Scherschel, a photographer from Life Magazine. He took a number of really incredible photos of women from Djerba wearing their jewels. This lady is wearing a cap cover with gilt silver coins called "qofiyeh". Similar coin covered caps are worn by ladies in the Sfax area (called "kabbous"), and also by ladies in the Gabes area (where it is called "tassiba")

Comments

Chantal February 20, 2013 at 9:54pm

Great photo Edith. Tremendous Rihanna......
Edith D February 20, 2013 at 10:11pm

Thanks Chantal...she is also wearing a "chairyeh" necklace, giant "khors" and "mahboub" head ornaments. More of Frank Scherschel's images of Djerba are available on Google Images.
Linda Pastorino February 20, 2013 at 11:28pm

wonderful photo! love the whole thing.. What makes her Jewish? is there something she is wearing that is obvious? Certain ornaments she is wearing only worn by Jewish woman?
Edith D February 20, 2013 at 11:40pm

The photographer identified her as Jewish, but also the qofiyeh in Djerba is specifically worn by Jewish women.
Linda Pastorino February 20, 2013 at 11:51pm

I figured it was the hat, which was the give away.. usually that is the case, a headdress. Have you ever seen these for sale ever? I have a group of collectors that are especially interested in Jewish worn items.
Edith D February 21, 2013 at 2:15am

Never saw one for sale. But, it is one of those things that I think you have to ask to find one, and I think you need to have the trust of the community (I don't think they would sell such an item to anyone, but I could be wrong). Of course, anything one must ask to find is probably going to have a high price!
Alaa eddine SAGID February 21, 2013 at 9:13am

I am drooling over the hat...and the rihana seems to be a good one....i am skeptical about her bzing jewish but who knows....probably the eyebrows make up could be a proof of her jewishness as well and the very discreet wrist watch!!!
If this photo is early enough then only jewish people had sufficient contacts with foreigners to allow their women to wear such an accessorie!
Edith D February 21, 2013 at 1:06pm

Ayis, I think the photo was taken sometime after WWII, probably in the 1950s. Scherschel was a photo-journalist known for his WWII photos. After the war he took a number of photos in Djerba that appeared in LIFE Magazine (including this one) and more recently in Kent Blady's book "Jewish Communities in Exotic Places." I don't have any doubt that this lady is jewish since he published others from the same period of that community.
Edith D February 21, 2013 at 1:09pm

Here is another image taken at the same wedding.
Alaa eddine SAGID February 21, 2013 at 2:47pm

Indeed Edith....the second image is more speaking.....again as you know in islamic coutries the difference between jews and muslims is very thin....and bar a couple or specific ornaments one can not put it straight.

Lovely images. thanx