Obj. ID: 41035
Sacred and Ritual Objects  Bride's Ornament, Tunis, circa 1920

The following description was prepared by William Gross:

The trade of jewelry making in gold and silver in Tunisia was largely in Jewish hands. This was true in most of the country, but particularly in Djerba. Most of the jewlery fashioned in gold was for the Jewish community while Arabs generally wore silver items. Many of the pieces of jewelry contained amuletic elements, particularly the hamsa, fish, and birds. The level of skill was generally very high.

This beautiful "necklace" is made to ornament the forehead of a Jewish bride in Tunisia. It is made of multiple small gold parts that are formed by beating thin gold sheet over wooden forms. The pieces are then backed by flat gold pieces, soldered on to give the pieces strength. The pseudo-Ottoman coins are made from different stamped pieces that are soldered together. These adornments were for weddings and other celebratory occasions.