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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This is very interesting - the Thalars are so similar and the cord looks like a 4 strand braid.
Peter,What an interesting beads, the same pattern bails,fantastic and a bit extra decoration on the main pendant. Lovely. so well composed. So....good. Gr. Ingrid.
Dear Charlotte; The Thalers are the same. There was sometimes changes in the image of Maria Theresia due to her aging, etc. however, the coin itself never changed. Your piece is made out of this Thaler and the Thalers attached on the sides are Maria Theresia Thalers. They sometimes also used the smaller Indian silver coins, which entered Oman through the trade routes. With kind regards. Peter
Dear Peter, some points on the thaler. I was told in Ethiopia. That the silver content differ. With the old ones it was 925, so sterling. In about 1895 Queen Victoria send an army to Ethiopia to help some imprisoned english missionares. As The Thaler was the currency needed to back up the cost of the army she had a batch minted in Austria, but they were 830 or 800/1000.
I also believe that is one of the reasons why Ethiopian old pieces of jewellery silver are often 700/1000
as the jewellers mixed in some other material,to make it harder and more durable, and when these lower content thalers came in they did the same mixture, until it was realised what has gone on.
Love to hear your from you about this information. Gr. Ingrid.
Dear Ingrid; Your comments are very interesting indeed. I have just mentioned in my posting to Eva that there is a very interesting book about the Maria Theresia Thaler available. I do not have it with me here in Jordan but keep it at my home in France. I will look the details up in coming February when I will be returning home and let you know. I have read most of the book but cannot really remember a mention about a lower quality Thaler. However, there were also many fake Maria Theresia Thalers circulating. These Thalers have been minted in many countries. Anyhow, I will check and let you know in February. With kind regards. Peter
Peter, thank you that would be nice. In the mean time I will take out my Thalers and have a check made on them, some are as they are and some with decorated with bells and bails. They are not the fake ones, as the edges do have their patterns and not smooth as I think fakes have. Looking forward for your research. Thank you. I also have noted the title of the book. Gr. Ingrid.
Dear Ingrid; I have just posted the name of the book under the posting of Eva. By the way, there are many variances in the Thalers, some have been amended (by the Chinese for example), etc.. The regular Thaler is of course worth its value. However, special editions, mistakes in the minting, etc. can fetch much more than a regular 1780 Thaler. Therefore, today the purity of the Thaler might no longer be the main reason for the Thaler's price but the rarity of the same. Collectors will pay big sums for such Thalers. Anyhow, the whole story is highly fascinating... With kind regards. Peter
Sorry Ingrid, not under the posting of Eva but the posting of Betty - my apologies. Peter