Gallery

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.

Woman's belt buckle. Western Black Sea region / Turkey. Armenian Museum of France.

Posted by Jean-Marie Criel on March 25, 2016 at 4:30am

'Toka' (woman's belt buckle). Late-Ottoman, 19th century. Coral, turquoise and enamel inlaid (gilded) silver filigree work. Belonged to an Armenian family. Probably made in a Christian workshop of Safranbolu (possibly Armenian; if not: 'Rum'/Anatolian Greek). (Armenian Museum of France, Paris).

Comments

Peter Hoesli March 25, 2016 at 6:02pm

Dear Jean-Marie; This is one of the most beautiful belt buckles I have come across! Just stunning! With kind regards. Peter
Thelma March 27, 2016 at 3:35pm

Superb craftsmanship! Do you know if those coral pieces were intentionally shaped in the form of almonds?
Jean-Marie Criel March 27, 2016 at 9:37pm

@ Thelma: I don't have specific information about the almond-shaped corals. But, since they are found so often in this kind of jewelry (Safranbolu & co), I think the shape must be intentionally. If I were to propose a symbolic meaning to them, I would refer to the 'badem gözlü Acem' / 'Persian girl with almond(-shaped) eyes', which appear in Anatolian folk songs as a summum of female beauty. With kind regards, JM.