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Dress ornament (generic title)

Title	Dress ornament (generic title)
Author	Unknown
Publication Date:	1850
Publication Place	Algeria (made) -
Subject	Jewellery Africa Metalwork
Type	Other
Language	Undetermined
Digital	Yes
Manuscript	No
Physical Dimensions	Length: 9.3cm, Width: 4.1cm
Library:	Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID	492-1865
Record ID	492-1865
Library Location	Middle East Section
Date	1850
Notes	This modest hook was one of the first pieces of North African traditional jewellery to enter the V&A collections. It was described as a dress ornament which was said to have been worn as an emblem of virginity, and which pre-dated the French occupation of Algeria, when it was acquired in 1865. Hooks like this were usually worn at the time to fasten or secure other pieces of jewellery. The name aqafa simply means hook.
Malzemeler ve teknikler	Incised silver set with a blue paste Silver Paste Incising
Fiziksel açıklama	Oval piece of sheet silver with incised geometric decoration on the front. At one end the silver is shaped backwards into a hook, and at the other it is curled forward to make a loop. There is a cylindrical mount in the centre containing a blue glass bead.

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Victoria and Albert Museum

Dress ornament (generic title)

Author Unknown

Publication Date 1850

Publication Place Algeria (made) -

Subject Jewellery Africa Metalwork

Type Other

Language Undetermined

Digital Yes

Manuscript No

Physical Dimensions Length: 9.3cm, Width: 4.1cm

Library Victoria and Albert Museum

Library Asset ID 492-1865

Record ID 492-1865

Library Location Middle East Section

Date 1850

Notes This modest hook was one of the first pieces of North African traditional jewellery to enter the V&A collections. It was described as a dress ornament which was said to have been worn as an emblem of virginity, and which pre-dated the French occupation of Algeria, when it was acquired in 1865. Hooks like this were usually worn at the time to fasten or secure other pieces of jewellery. The name aqafa simply means hook.

Malzemeler ve teknikler Incised silver set with a blue paste Silver Paste Incising

Fiziksel açıklama Oval piece of sheet silver with incised geometric decoration on the front. At one end the silver is shaped backwards into a hook, and at the other it is curled forward to make a loop. There is a cylindrical mount in the centre containing a blue glass bead.