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Yemeni ring made of high-grade silver. This kind of rings are called tower rings, and are also worn by Rashaida women. Age: 1st half of the 20th century. Provenance: German private collection. Dimensions: Total height of the ring: 3,8 cm Ring size: 16,25 mm inner diameter - US size 5 1/2 Literature: “Bagues ethniques d'afrique, d'Asie et d'Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000, p. 120 “Africa Adorned”, Fisher, Angela, Collins Harvill, London, 1984, p. 279 YEM204
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Silver woman’s Qu’ran holder in a rectangular shape, decorated with filigree, glass beads and 2 coral beads on the sides. It has an opening lid on top, and coins at the bottom, which are the original dangles of this piece. From Syria, probably from Deir ez Zor. Late 19th century or beginning of the 20th.Coins are dated 1293 of the Islamic calendar, which corresponds to 1871 of our calendar. Some of the small blue glass beads are missing. Material: High grade silver (coins), low grade silver, coral, glass beads. Dimensions: Size of the amulet with coins: 9,5 x 10 cm Lenght of the chain (approx): 80 cm Literature: “The arts and crafts of Syria”, Kalter, Johannes, Thames and Hudson, 1992, p. 98 ME229
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Elbow bracelet called “iwuki” or “aweyka”. It is a large ring carved in stone (or sometimes wood) worn by men above the elbow. It could be worn alone or with other similar bracelets. The stone is sourced in the Aïr desert. It fell into disuse at the end of the 20th century except for the Fulani Bororo (woodabé), who borrowed them from the Tuareg and wear it frequently, still today. Each shape has a different name. Inner diameter: 8,5 cm Literature: “Bijoux tuaregs”, Burner, Jean, Éditions du Fournel, 2011, p. 254 WA125
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Traditional old silver earplugs from the Karen tribes living in the golden triangle hills on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. They were use with some bettle colorful wings. They have to be worn on extended earlobes holes. High-grade silver +800 (tested). From the first half of the 20th century. Dimensions: Gauge: 12 mm Diameter of the rim at the back side of the earring: 14 mm Diameter: 20 mm Both of them weigh 8,9 gr. Literature: “Peoples of the golden triangle”, Lewin, Paul and Elaine, River Books, Bangkok, 1998, p. 60 “A world of earrings. Africa, Asia America”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2001, p. 236 SEA208
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Traditional old silver earplugs from the Karen tribes living in the golden triangle hills on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. They were use with some bettle colorful wings. They have to be worn on extended earlobes holes. High-grade silver +800 (tested). From the first half of the 20th century. Dimensions: Gauge: 15 mm Diameter of the rim at the back side of the earring: 19 mm Diameter: 30 mm Both of them weigh 18,4 gr. Literature: “Peoples of the golden triangle”, Lewin, Paul and Elaine, River Books, Bangkok, 1998, p. 60 “A world of earrings. Africa, Asia America”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2001, p. 236 SEA206
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"Hombori" stone bracelet, West Africa. Hombori is the name of a chain of mountains, and the region around. Dogon, Songhai, Fulani, Mossi, Frafra and some other groups wear this sort of bracelets. The region is rich in different stones, one of them is this kind of marble. From the 19th century or early 20th. Provenance: ex-UK private collection. Dimensions: Total diameter: 10 cm Inner diameter: 8 cm Width: 3 cm Weight: 235,4 gr Literature: “Africa Adorned”, Fisher, Angela, Collins Harvill, London, 1984, pag. 120-121 “African Hats and jewellery”, Clarke, Duncan, PRC Publishing, 1998, p.43 “Bracelets ethniques d'afrique, d'Asie d'Océanie et d'Amérique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2002, p. 45 WA124
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Nose ring from Himachal Pradesh in the typical bulak design, a large crescent, constructed with
very fine granulation and a coral bead. These were worn in the Septum of the nose, hanging down to or over the mouth.
From the first half of the 20th century. Dimensions: 7,3 x 4,5 cm. Provenance: German private collection. Literature:
“Nose rings of India”, Ganguly, Waltraud, BR publishing Corporation, 2015, p. 63 HIM97 -
Old silver ring from Central Asia, with inset with a carnelian gemstone. High grade silver. From early 20th century. Provenance: German private collection. Size of the ring: 18 mm (inner diameter) - US size 7 3/4. CA152
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Silver earrings, worn most probably by the Zhuang people, one of the ethnic minorities inhabiting SW China. They were decorated with enamel of different colors and they show a worn dent at the top, meaning that they were probably used hanging from a string on each side of the face. High grade silver and enamel. First half of the 20th century. Provenance: French private collection. Dimensions: 5,5 cm (diameter) Gauge: 4 mm Weight: 42,3 gr SEA505
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Bronze box that contains lime. The box is suspended from the belt, together with a beaded ornament and spatula. Lime is necessary for the preparation of betel. From the 19th century or early 20th. Dimensions: 6 x 5,5 x 6 cm Weight: 174,1 gr It is overall in good condition, although the two parts don't totally fit, due to deposits of lime on the rim A similar example can be seen at the British Museum's collection in London Literature: “Ceintures ethniques d'Afrique d'Asie, d'Océanie et d'Amérique”, Leurquin, Anne, Skira, 2004, p. 160 IND1615
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Old silver earrings from the Yao people, one of the hill tribes living in the golden triangle hills on the border of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar and also the SW China hills. Mien and some Lahu also wear this bent arrow earrings. They have to be worn on extended earlobes holes. They have been decorated with blue enamel. High-grade silver. From 1st half of XXth century. The earrings are 3 cm high and 2,5 cm wide. Both of them weigh 15 gr. The thickness of the widest part is 5 mm. SEA247
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Old ethnic silver earrings from the Hill Tribes, especially the Hmong ethnic minority, living in the Golden triangle in SE Asia. Made of high grade +800 silver (tested). From mid-XXth Century. Miao silver, made of outstandingly fine silver, are also notable for their clean forms. Whereas rings are very rare, we know of an incredible number of types of earrings, and variations on a single theme. According to van Cutsem, these types of earrings already become rare by the late 70's. The earrings measure 3,5 cm. The gauge is approx. 3 mm. Both of them weigh 9 gr. Reference: “A world of earrings. Africa, Asia, America”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2001 “The art of silver jewellery”, Skira, 2006 “Peoples of the golden triangle”, Lewin, Paul and Elaine, River Books, Bangkok SEA196
