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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Not Nagaland, I believe. They could come from Nepal, but would be of comparatively recent origin.
Thanks, Patti. No, I couldn`t imagine Nagaland either. It was described as Islamic Bedouin - quite a broad catch-all anyway and not neccessarily correct. I suspect Nepal, too.
the butterfly/insect imagery for me would rule out most islamic origins too...
of course, it`s a butterfly! Hadn`t even interpreted it correctly, Sarah. To me it just didn`t have an overall islamic appearance. Thanks for the help.
As Patricia suggests tentatively, an amulet box like this is, stylistically at any rate, Nepalese - quite unambiguously so, and yes, the chief motif is that of the butterfly. The type is fairly common, and well-documented. See for example Hannelore Gabriel (the foremost authority on Nepalese jewellery), *Jewelry of Nepal*, p. 40, and *A World of Necklaces*, pp. 268-9. I would stress that owning good reference books greatly facilitates the process of collecting and identification. I can't see the piece well enough to judge its age, quality, the materials used, etc - but culturally speaking it is meant to be Nepalese, and most probably was also actually made there.
This is very similar to one I sold this month. They used to come around more often but not as much now. These are from Nepal definately. There is a good book on the subject by Hanelore Gabrielle.
I see Joost mentioned book already
Right, Linda, and I spelled the surname correctly, in case anyone wants to look it up: GABRIEL!
Gorgeous heft, cast, and color.