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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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Glass beads necklace from the Rabari people in Gujarat (India), with a central amulet in the center. Materials: low grade silver, glass beads, buttons, cowrie glass imitations. Dimensions: Length: 67 cm Size of the central amulet case: 3,5 x 3,5 cm IND1646
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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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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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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
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Sculpted ivory ring from the Karen people in Burma (Myanmar). From the end of the 19th beginning of the 20th Century. The size of the ring (inner diameter) is 19 mm. Height: 25 mm. Reference: “Bagues ethniques d’afrique, d’aAsie et d’Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000 SEA04
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Old Afghan silver ring, with an ancient glass inset. From the first half of the 20th century. Dimensions: Total length: 4 cm Size: 18,75 mm inner diameter (US size: 8 3/4) CA30
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Silver bazuband amulet from India, which is used tied on the forearm. It represents an unusual iconography from Hindu mythology. High-grade silver. From the 1st half of the 20th century. Dimensions:8 x 4,5 cm Weight: 20 gr IND1610
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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: 11 cm Inner diameter: 7,5 cm Width: 2,4 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 WA121
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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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Pair of Afghan earrings, made of silver wire, wrapped in a spiral and granulated bottom end. Inset with what it seems to be carnelian stones on top. Accordinag to Janata (see literature) these earrings are wrongly attributed to the Kazakhs, but this type, is undoubtedly native to northern Afghanistan and fits stylistically and technically into one of the dominant Tajik styles. Early 20th century. High grade silver and carnelian. Dimensions: 6,5 x 1,5 cm Weight: 19 gr Literature: “A world of earrings. Africa, Asia America”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2001, p. 85 “Schmuck in Afganisthan”, Janata, Alfred, Akademische Druck, 1981, p. 95 CA155
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Traditional old silver earplugs from the Karen tribe They are worn on extended earlobes holes. High-grade silver +800 (tested). From the 19th century. Dimensions: Gauge: 17 mm Diameter of the edge on the back side of the earring: 20 mm Diameter: 3,4 mm Both of them weigh 23 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 SEA8
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High grade silver earrings from Oman. From Mid 20th century. Provenance: private Dutch collection. Dimensions:13,5 x 7 cm Weight: 43 gr Literature: “Oman Adorned”, Shelton, Pauline-Morris, Miranda, Apex Publishing, 1997 “Silver Jewellery of Oman”, Rajab, Jehan S., Tareq Rajab Museum, Kuwait, 1997 “A world of earrings. Africa, Asia America”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2001 ME212
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Old tribal ring, worn in the African Sahel, in Mali and Niger by the Soninke or Sarakole people, also worn by the Fulani or Peul people. The silver has a beautiful patina. From the first half of the 20th century. The ring size is 6 1/2 (American size) - 17 mm inner diameter. The top measures 3 x 2,3 cm It weighs 25 gr. Literature: “Bagues ethniques d’afrique, d’Asie et d’Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000 WA91
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Konyak Naga head ornament, made of orange and two different hues of blue beads. It is worn as seen in the last picture. From mid 20th century. Provenance: French private collection Dimensions (approx) 20 x 20 cm. No clasp. Literature: “The Naga”, Jacobs, Julian, Edition Hansjörg Mayer, 2012, p.309 “The power of headdresses”, Biebuyck D. &Van de Abbele, Leopold II Foundation, 1984, p.165 IND1684
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Armenian silver ring, made of a wide silver band and a gilded silver top, inset with blue glass and garnets. From the 19th or early 20th century. Provenance: Belgian private collection. Size: 20,75 mm (inner diameter). US size is 11 Weight: 10,9 gr Literature: “Armenian women's adornments in the 18th-20th centúries”, Israellyan, Astghik, National Museum, Yerevan, 2021, p. 175 “Remnants of the past-Collection of Lousick Agouletsi”, Tigran mets, 2010, p. 151 CA199
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Miao silver earrings from the Guizhou, China. The front is in the shape of a hand. High grade silver. Early 20th century. Provenance: French private collection. Dimensions: 5 cm (diameter) Gauge: 5 mm Weight: 48 gr Literature: “A world of earrings. Africa, Asia America”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2001, p. 170 “The art of silver jewellery. From the minorities of China, the Golden Triangle, Mongolia and Tibet”, Skira, 2006, p. 79 SEA506
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Metal hair pins, called “Sipna”, usually made of aluminium. According to Anne van Cutsem (see literature) these hairpins are from Arunachal Pradesh, India. The catalog of the Tribal Museum of Bhubaneswar (Odisha) states that Sipna are worn by the Dongria Kondh women of Chatikona in the Rayagada district. This scissor-shaped, aluminium hairpin is crafted by the Gasi artisans through lost wax process. Dongria Kondh women use it by decorating their bun during marriages and festive occasions. Late 19th or early 20th century. Dimensions: Big sipna: 15 x 12 cm Small sipna: 12 x 6,5 cm Literature: “Parures de tête ethniques d’afrique, d’Asie d’Océanie et d’Amérique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2005 IND1604-5
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Old silver ring, made of high grade silver and a glass inset on top and on both sides, most probably from Afghanistan. From the first half of the 20th Century. This ring is 18,50 mm - US 8 1/4 Provenance: UK private collection. CA113
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Old tribal ring, worn in the African Sahel, in Mali and Niger by the Soninke or Sarakole people, also worn by the Fulani or Peul people and the Tuareg from the south. The silver has a beautiful patina. From the first half of the 20th century. This is a heavy example, made with a massive silver piece with engravings and copper inlay (on top). The ring size is 7 1/4 (American size) - 17,5 mm diameter. The top measures (diameter) 2,5 cm It weighs 28,7 gr. Literature: “Bagues ethniques d'afrique, d'Asie et d'Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000 WA105
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Silver earrings from the Hill Tribes, especially the Hmong ethnic minority, living in the Golden triangle in SE Asia. Very small and delicate dangles hang from them. Made of high grade +800 silver (tested). From mid-XXth Century or earlier. Miao and Hmong 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 - with dangles 8 cm (3,15 in). The gauge is approx. 4 mm. Both of them weigh 12 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 SEA285
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Black Yao back adornment, from different subgroups like the Iu Mien, inhabiting Laos and Thailand. It is made with long cotton streamers which hang on the back of the tunic collars. The top is made with enamel medals (both sides), silver bells and glass beads. Traditionally this dark burgundy red is used. The most recent ones used a much brighter red. From the 1st half of 20th century. Dimensions: Length: 65 cm Width on top (with beads): 9 cm Reference: “The Yao” Pourret, Jess G.,River Books, Bangkok, 2002 SEA226
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Old bone earplugs from the Hill tribes living in South East Asia, most probably from Laos or Vietnam. This type of ear ornaments was worn by both men and women. They have to be wear on extended earlobes holes. By the end of the Seventies it was already rare to see men and women wearing these earplugs, and nowadays they are very difficult to find. Dimensions: Length: 36 mm Bigger diameter: 21 mm Smaller diameter (at the centre): 16 mm Weight: 31,4 gr Reference: “A world of earrings. Africa, Asia, America”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2001 SEA221
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Old Chinese silver chatelaine pendant with a grooming kit. This type of chatelain is often suspended from a loop on the shoulder or from the back of a neck ring. Silver has not been tested. The central pendant depicts two men on both sides that may represent Hehe, the heavenly Twins that brings harmony, blessings and health. From the first half of the 20th Century. The pendant measures 30 cm high (11,81 in). It weighs 42 gr. SEA173
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Bronze lime container that is suspended from a waist band. Worn by Naga people. Lime is needed for the betel preparation. From the 19th century, very nice patina. Due to the accumulation of lime on the edges the container doesn’t close totally. Dimensions: 6,5 x 5,5 x 5 cm Literature: “Ceintures ethniques d'Afrique d'Asie, d'Océanie et d'Amérique”, Leurquin, Anne, Skira, 2004, p. 160 A similar example can be seen in the collection of the British Museum (London): https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/A_As1982-19-134-a-b IND1615
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Old Kazakh silver ring from Central Asia, with very nice worn patina. The oval bezel setting is backed with red paper. High grade silver. From the 19th or early 20th century. Provenance: German private collection. Size of the ring: 18,25 mm (inner diameter) - US size 8. Literature: “Later Islamic Jewellery”, L.A. Mayer Institute for Islamic Art, Jerusalem, 1987, p. 143 “The arts and crafts of Turkestan”, Kalter, Johannes, Thames and Hudson, 1983, p. 127 CA144
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Silver ring, most probably from the Sindh region in Pakistan. Anne van Cutsem mentions (see literature) that these rings come from Pashtun tribes. Glass and high-grade silver. Age: First half of the 20th century Provenance: UK private collection. The size of the ring is 18 mm - inner diameter (7 3/4 US size) . The top of the ring measures 35 x 35 mm. Literature: “Bagues ethniques d'afrique, d'Asie et d'Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000, p. 120 CA127
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Silver ring from India, with a foil-backed clear-glass “stone”. Glass and high-grade silver. Age: mid-20th century Dimensions: Top of the ring: 4,9 cm Ring size: 19,75 mm inner diameter or US size 9 3/4 Literature: “Bagues ethniques d'afrique, d'Asie et d'Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000 IND1607
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Big silver Turkmen ring, worn by people of the Teke tribe, Central Asia. The Yuzuk ring is very simple. A large carnelian is set in a wide silver band, a thin twisted wire running around the base of the stone. The band may be decorated with a relief, sometimes a very complicated one, but the general effect is always that of monumentality and severity. High-grade silver, and a big old carnelian bead on top. From the first quarter of the 20th century or earlier. Dimensions: Top of the ring: 3 cm Ring size: 18,5 mm (inner diameter) or 8 1/4 (US size) Literature: “Bagues ethniques d'afrique, d'Asie et d'Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000, p.112 “Jewelry from the Orient (Bir Collection)”, Seiwert, Wolf Dieter, Arnoldsche, 2009, p.261 “Schmuck aus Zentralasien”, Prokot, Inge and Joachim Callwey, Verlag München, 1981, p. 142 “The arts and crafts of Turkestan”, Kalter, Johannes, Thames and Hudson, 1983, p.127 “Der Turkmenenschmuck”, Rudolph, Hermann, Museum für Völkerkunde, 1984, p. 251 CA77
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Big silver Turkmen ring, worn by people of the Teke tribe, Central Asia. The Yuzuk ring is very simple. A large carnelian is set in a wide silver band, a thin twisted wire running around the base of the stone. The band may be decorated with a relief, sometimes a very complicated one, but the general effect is always that of monumentality and severity. High-grade silver, gilded silver and a big old carnelian bead on top. From the first quarter of the 20th century or earlier. Dimensions: Top of the ring: 2,5 cm Ring size: 18 mm (inner diameter) or 7 3/4 (US size) Provenance: German private collection. Literature: “Bagues ethniques d’afrique, d’Asie et d’Amerique”, van Cutsem, Anne, Skira, 2000, p.112 “Jewelry from the Orient (Bir Collection)”, Seiwert, Wolf Dieter, Arnoldsche, 2009, p.261 “Schmuck aus Zentralasien”, Prokot, Inge and Joachim Callwey, Verlag München, 1981, p. 142 “The arts and crafts of Turkestan”, Kalter, Johannes, Thames and Hudson, 1983, p.127 “Der Turkmenenschmuck”, Rudolph, Hermann, Museum für Völkerkunde, 1984, p. 251 CA147
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Silver tribal guard bangle with silver spheres perimeters. These sort of tribal bracelets are worn by Dangee and Patel tribal people of Rajasthan, sometimes on the wrist or just above the elbow. One quarter-hinged part can be opened by a central pin. Very good silver content, with a great patina. From 1st to half 20th Century. Dimensions: Total diameter: 10 cm Inner diameter: 7,2 cm Inner perimeter: 19,7 cm round It weighs 91 gr. IND1040 Literature: ” Traditional jewelry of India” by Oppi Untractht.
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Pair of silver flexible “paizebh” anklets from India. High-grade silver. From mid-XXth Century. They can be opened easily with a pin. This kind of flexible Indian anklets look lighter and more frivolous than the rigid pieces that can be found in other regions in India, but they are usually heavier than they appear to be. Women in traditional Central India usually wear several flexible and rigid anklets on each leg at the same time. Check the post about Indian anklets in my blog for more information The anklets are 26,5 cm long. They both weigh 75 gr. Literature: “Indian Jewellery”, Holbein Hendley, Thomas, BR publication, Delhi, 2009 “Rajasthan's silver jewellery”, Pandey, Tripti, Rupa &co,, New Delhi, 2003 IND1572
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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: 4,5 cm Ring size: 20 mm inner diameter - US size 10 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 YEM205
