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.
You need to be a member of Adorned Histories to add comments!
Request your copy of our newsletter.
If you would like to receive our newsletter
Comments
I understand that status could be judged by the size and magnificence of the button. Things never change! I have Anna to thank for this one.
I thought I recognized that beauty, Thelma. Thanks for adding it to your fine collection and for posting it here. Stupendous photo!
Anna
Thank you Anna and Marc; and Sarah for the feature. Yes, its size and beauty may have an impact. But also the dense pattern of symbols on its surface (I have rarely seen so many on one guljaka) are as important, telling the about the history and beliefs of the group. A vigorous and confident shout.
You know, I love beads. But I also love the way people can use metal in decorative ways to send messages of quite complicated kinds. Can this also be done with beads? I am a novice here.
The Kazakh silversmiths among the Turkmen tribes create hollow flat beads with repetitive symbols in granulated silver. Most often it will show a circle of silver dots in the center bordered with triangular patterns that may well be based on the mountain symbol or tumar. Those are the most complex designs I have found on beads. My other beads tend to contain motifs that are used in other Asian cultures; in other words, they don't express the tribal world view as the larger pieces do.
Outside the Turkmen cultural tradition, beads carry a lot of significance even in the material from which they are made. I am thinking of the agate eye beads that had been adopted throughout the continent of Asia in very ancient times.
Ah yes, the patterns on metal beads.. maybe they can be interpreted. And the agate eye beads are very compelling. Thanks Anna.