Author
Unknown
Publication Date
1839
Publication Place
Egypt (made) -
Subject
Jewellery Africa Metalwork
Type
Other
Language
Undetermined
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Physical Dimensions
Width: 21.4cm
Library
Victoria and Albert Museum
Library Asset ID
1103-1869
Record ID
1103-1869
Library Location
Middle East Section
Date
1839
Notes
A torque is a stiff metal ring, usually open at the front, which is worn round the neck. They were originally made of twisted metal, as the name implies, and were used as indications of rank in Celtic times. They survived as part of the traditional jewellery in a number of places. This torque, described as a â Tok â, was acquired in Cairo before 1869, and carries Egyptian silver marks from the mid-19th century. It was described as âmodern Egyptianâ, when acquired but was probably made for women of the Siwa oasis, in the desert between Egypt and Libya. The jewellery of Siwa is different from that worn elsewhere in Egypt, and huge torques, like this, are one of the most characteristic items. The word â Tok â simply means torque in Arabic, but the word â Aghraw â is Berber in origin and specific to the torques of Siwa.
Sample Text
'Ù¨Ù ', a crescent and a stylised lion, in an oval frame.Transliteration80TranslationMark for 800 standard silver, Egypt,c.1839-1920.NoteOn front., 'Ù¨Ù ' over wavy line with a loop at the right end, in square frame.Transliteration80MTranslationMark for 800 standard silver.NoteOn front., Calligraphic monogram in Arabic.TranslationTughra of the Ottoman Sultan.NoteOn front.
Malzemeler ve teknikler
silver Silver
Fiziksel açıklama
Silver torque, made from a hoop of thick silver wire bent into a hook at one end and a loop at the other. The end of wire used for the loop is wrapped several times round the end of the hoop.
