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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Ha, ha don't under estimate my fingers!!
Wow! Super picture, Howah. Trust you! But I do hope that young man has more support to his ear decoration than is immediately apparent. How wonderful to see the hair plaits incorporated into the whole decoration.
The yellow glass interests me as well. I am more used to them in coral or turquoise as in your illustration.
I have titled the photo Hair Ring/ Finger Ring since I understand the use of them was interchangeable. It has a diameter of 2.2cms.
Howah, you are the best as you always come up with these wonderful pics for illustration!! Very nice looking man proudly wearing his jewelry. Thanks alot!!
Hi Frankie, the yellow stone is probably in imitation of amber, another popular stone among the Tibetans. Perhaps the original (natural) stone was removed to be sold/recycled or fell out and it was replaced with this glass/ceramic stone? It's always fun to imagine what the history is of a piece. In either case, this is a very cool piece! Need to get me one of these too..
Hi Howah!
That occurred to me, too, Howah. Though, if it is, the result is pretty wide of the marK. The colouring is actually more an acid lemon colour than shows in the photo. But I still like to think it could be an attempt at a visual amber substitute since it`s this type of detail of background of ethnic jewellery that enchants me. It could well be a substitute for the original.
I bought it from an eBay seller of tibetan coins, who didn`t seem to realise the value of it. Proves that great finds are still available out there if one has the time to search for them.
Howah, you can`t believe how many times I`ve consulted the Kazakh jewellery book! And gone to it for pleasure to drool over the niello and that glorious blue enamel. Thanks so much for providing the opportunity!
I noticed that the Tibetan silversmiths have been less strict with enforcing traditional materials and shapes on their jewellery, at least based on photos I have seen of Tibetans at festivals a.o. and the current Tibetan pieces for sale in the antique markets.
For instance, they're using a lof of dyed coral and turquoise instead of natural ones nowadays compared to the past and are using stones now that didn't occur in the old repertoire. More often dyed red/orange/blue glass is used as substitute for the the more expensive natural stones.
So my conclusion is that the colours convey the original symbolism/powers and therefore the materialuse is less strictly enforced?
I would compare it to the custom in Islamic cultures to use red glass nowadays as a substitute for carnelian, since the colour red symbolises blood and hence life so the colour conveys the original wish/purpose. Same for the colour blue which protects against the evil eye. Turquoise, lapis lazuli or cheaper blue glass because it's the symbolism that is most important?
@ fellow members: feel free to comment on my ramblings!
@ Frankie: I wish I had scanned the book before selling it to you, haha! The bigger Kazakh book is nice, but more of a catalogue.
OK, one comment coming up - very good ramblings, Howah.
Seriously, it`s good to know all that. I notice, too, that even the ladies who wear all those vast seemingly coral and amber necklaces at festivals don`t seem to mind frank imitations. I can`t think that those imitations will ever reach the status of African "amber", though. I take on board the symbolism aspect.
Mmm, the seller is still offering me the second book. I think I wont take him up on it. I`m sure he`ll find a buyer eventually anyway. Howah, you surprise me. I thought you were a technical wizzkid! If I were, I`d scan the first Kazakh book and send it to you.
Hey, but you were the cutest ever toddler!!
Hey, I wanted to scan the book before sending it to you, but it was so frikkin busy in the office so didn't manage to do it. Didn't want to keep you waiting any longer so had sent it out asap. I also thought that the big book would display the exact same examples of the items in the thinner book, but that's not the case. The big book is great though, cause although it's more of a catalogue, it does show many styles from the different regions, so in that respect is more educational and helpfil in identification purposes than the other book that only shows a few examples of each region. Paired with my other book on Kazakh jewelry, I have (almost) the full range. so when I see a piece online that is described as Kazakh, I will open both books to try to find a comparable one.
I was indeed very cute as a toddler, haha.. My mother should have cashed in on it back then!
I will send you a few photos of those nice Tibetan ladies at festivals wearing huge, impressive coral and amber necklaces.
Howah, I agree. One finds imitations of genuine fossil amber in Africa that are used for the same effect. One could also comment about Western society. Many people wear silver with CZ stones in very good imitation of platinum and diamonds. Are they just going for the "bling" effect, or is this to make them look wealthier in other people's eyes. I think that there are SO many ways to read into copies of items, the main two being: talismanic/ symbolic effect of the jewelry and socio-economic factors.