Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1800
Publication Place
Tripoli (made) -
Subject
Jewellery Africa Metalwork
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Length: 11.2cm, Width: 5cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
581-1868
Record ID
581-1868
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1800
Notes
This earring was bought new (with its pair) at the Paris International Exhibition of 1867, for 18 shillings and 10 pence. The Museum had bought the Castellani Collection of Italian Peasant Jewellery at the same exhibition, and chose jewellery in the traditional style from other countries to show the differences and similarities between different cultures. The main purpose of all these acquisitions was to help improve the quality of design among British artisans. This earring was described as âmodern Turkish, from Tripolyâ, when it was acquired. The Tripoli in question must be the Libyan city as it is typical of the kind of jewellery worn there in the 19th century, and carries numerous silver marks in use in the Tripoli region. At that time the Ottoman Empire extended along much of the North African coast, although its authority was often only nominal, as in Egypt.
Sample Text
'M' in a circular beaded frame. Note Struck eight times, partially: on the front of the pierced lower part of the earring; on the front of the two smaller triangular pendants; and on the five pillar-shaped pendants.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
Cast silver with coral beads Silver Coral Openwork
Fiziksel açıklama
Silver penannular earring with a thick wire, with a point at one end, which widens at the bottom to form a flat strip pierced with six holes with seven loops along its lower edge. There are seven pendants hanging from the seven loops. The central pendant is a flat pierced triangle with three smaller pendants hanging from its lower edge: a pillar shape with a coiled wire on either side with two coral beads. There is a similar, slightly smaller, triangular pendant on either side of the central one, with the same subsidiary pendants. The other holes are filled with two coiled wires with coral beads, and two pillars.
