Tuareg Silver Veil Weight Key African Tribal Jewelry 9" OLD, Mixed Metals, Museum Quality - Exquisite ! Start Price USD 645.00 Current Price USD 645.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 End Time Tuesday, July 29, 2008 Location Santa Fe, NM See more about 'Tuareg Silver Veil Weight Key African Tribal Jewelry 9"' Description   Early Tuareg Silver Assrou n Swoul Veil Weight KeyTouareg PendantAntique African Art Tribal Jewelry Mali Niger     An Exquisite Early Tuareg Touareg Assrou n Swoul Veil Weight PendantAntique African Art - Tribal Jewelry - Niger to Mali Collected from the: Ullimeden Tuareg Touareg peoples of Mali and Niger, West AfricaMaterial: Brass sandwiched to iron, copper overlay and protrusionsPeriod: Very early 20th century, conservativelyDimensions: 9 1/16" height, 1 11/16" width, 1/4" thick at protrusions; weight is 2.3 ounces or 65 grams Condition: Pristine - No damage or repair, exquisite signs of age, wear and extensive tribal use, scuffs and nicks present patination. An authentic early piece with obvious tribal use, not to be confused with the mass produced, bulky new pieces commonly found on the open market today. Held in private collection, the condition of this piece remains unchanged from the time of its original acquisition. Would polish up nicely should you prefer though we highly recommend against such as the patina serves to define the intricate engravings. Make special note of the finely detailed designs - simply stunning ! Wealthier women wear the assrou n swoul, an elaborate key-like pendant designed specifically as a counterweight - this is a highly valued piece, made of iron, copper, and brass. The method of laminating used on these materials is known as the ‘sandwich technique’ and involves very time-consuming and delicate work for the Tuareg smiths.” Please click on the photos below to fully appreciate this remarkable piece! And be sure to see the beautiful TRIBAL JEWELRY in our eBay store! Or explore our beautiful AFRICAN BRONZES ! Click Images to Enlarge Tuareg Touareg Jewelry Tribal Traditions and Use “Visually striking for its clean lines, the delicacy of its engraved decorations, and the consistency of its geometrical shapes, Touareg classical jewelry exists in myriad forms and is worn to emphasize the head, neck, and arms. Unlike pieces worn by other Berber groups, they do not include large amber or coral beads or colorful enameling. By comparison, in fact, Tuareg pieces are relatively sober and appear as an accumulation of similar shapes and designs. Most Touareg jewelry is made of silver, red copper, brass, lead, tin, or aluminum. Other materials such as leather, faceted glass, agate, ivoire, and shell or stone beads are also used. Silver pieces are often reserved for formal occasions, while brass or copper jewelry is worn daily. Jewelry forms are forged and cast using the lost wax process then polished with sand and engraved, incised, or decorated with geometrical motifs in repousse. They are the work of inadan smiths or artists who are found in all Tuareg groups. Tuareg women wear ornaments at the back of their head, at their temples attached in their hair or braids, and sometimes in the middle of their foreheads. These usually take the form of rectangular, triangular, or square cases decorated with repousse motifs and little triangular baubles. Amulets, or tcherot, exist in many different forms, like the head ornaments described above. Mixing different metals or using leather creates color contrast in these pieces. Some are flat while others, resembling pyramidal constructions, are made with two to five levels. Tcherot are sometimes filled with sand or with papers bearing Koranic inscriptions and texts or magical letters prepared by ineslemen religious leaders. The tereout tan idmarden is considered one of the most important pieces of jewelry worn by brides in the Ahaggar region of Algeria. Made of several triangular cases which are attached to one another, it is decorated with triangular baubles along the bottom section.” See UCLA Fowler’s Art of Being Tuareg for full account of these fascinating nomadic people. Tuareg Tribal History Descendants of the ancient Berber race, the Tuareg remained fiercely independent through their refusal to integrate with other desert tribes and the retention of many of their pre-Islamic rituals and customs. Feared raiders of the desert, renowned for their caravan convoys of trade (and stolen) goods, the veiled Tuareg men saw robbery as an honorable occupation. Women of the Niger Tuareg group living in Mali dress uniformly in black or indigo gowns with a length of the same material worn over the head. The women’s head-cloths are held in place by counter-weights. These are often improvised from objects such as the large decorative keys of camel-bag locks or even a bunch of European keys. Even today Tuareg women go about unveiled, displaying their fair complexions and occasional blue eyes, and are free to chose and/or divorce their husbands – all signs of freedom and status unheard of in the Muslim world. See Africa Adorned by Angela Fisher for a detailed account of this fascinating culture. Cat. # mvw4 ************************************************************************************ THANK YOU FOR SHOPPING SANTA FE AFRICAN ART !!! We strive to earn your ***** FIVE STAR ***** rating in all 4 categories!If you are not 5 star satisfied, please contact us immediately!Your Satisfaction is Unconditionally Guaranteed ! ************************************************************************************ Multiple purchases = SUBSTANTIAL savings on your shipping costs! Never a charge for handling! Important Note: UPS and USPS International request a daytime phone number for delivery, PLEASE be sure to include this information with your payment to ensure expedited service. 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