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 another, more stylized, one that I have (and love!).
This one from another member here, Ethnicadornment https://www.etsy.com/listing/220817664/old-silver-berber-ring-from-...
https://www.etsy.com/listing/219702934/berber-ring-from-morocco-old...
It is very tricky to symbold everywhere, for sometimes only the aesthetics have motivated the smith and the owner .
These are women rings and as such their possible symbolism could be remated to fertility.
The more the bezel is pointed and "high" the more it could mean a fertile womb, a full belly. This is a mere theory based on more realistic symbology on the berber bracelets worn in the same aread ( namely the open/flared bracelets)
The fact is that such rings were worn in the dozens on each hand: so whatever they mean, the wearer wants "many" of what they symbolize, namely children which are the sole/main occupation, vocation of traditional women in traditional cultures.
These rings, were also worn tied in the tens (sometimes up to a hundred) on a long woolen braided cord attached to the head/hair and hanging on one side of the head, this habit was that of a tribe with a nomadic origin which settled among longtime sedentary tribes in southern Morocco.
The relation to hair and the saharan origin of this tribe is another argument in favour of the relation to fertility: Women's hair is strongly connected to the women's ability to procreate among the tribes living in arid spaces such as the sahara desert, hence the vowed connection with the fertility rings, themselves attached to the wollen long temporal which itself means a good omen of a possible long haire and thus lots of fertility!
When these tribes have had access to more coinage (in remplacement) to the barter system, one the first things was to use coins in their jewelry and many a ring of this type would come with a small coin attached to the domed part or bezel: this is again, could be seen as a relation to fertility which often overlaps with economical prosperity, both, in the psyche of human beings have to exapand/multiply.
i hope i got the main idea clear enough with my limited language
there diamonds represent the eye. A symbol which will protect the wearer from the jealousy or ill intent of those who may envy them.
Thank you so much Alaa Eddine. Your explanation makes me want to expand my ring collection even though I never wear them. But since I already have more children than rings... ;) Thank you though for taking the time for that.
Thanks Sarah!