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ETCHED SILVER AMULETS & GEMSTONE PENDANTS
In the West African sahel and Sahara Desert, silver, copper, brass, bead and shell have always been characterized by protective symbolism in an attempt to safeguard one's life. An evil force is opposed with the resisting power of a good force in the form of a triangle, the eye of a cowry, a circle with a dot in it or a square with an X. Amulet boxes of silver and copper, and brass which reinforces the power of copper or carnelian to stop blood, heal wounds or avert injury, are inscribed and then inserted with a magical plant formula or a written verse from the Koran that is believed to protect one's self and family. The smiting of silver by fire is associated with the spirit world and is understood to imbue a piece with the power to be effective.
A striking red jasper cabochon set in silver in the classic Tuareg style. Beaded with 8mm red jasper, 4mm carnelian & finished with a silver toggle.
Pendant: 3 x 4cm
$220/sold
Length: 18"
A black, red, gold & white agate cabochon set in silver in the classic but simple Tuareg pendant style. Beaded with 8mm dalmatian jasper, 6mm black onyx, 4mm carnelian & finished with a silver toggle.
Pendant: 3 x 4cm
$220/sold
Length: 18"
Sunrise carnelian cabochon set in the most classic of Tuareg etched silver settings. Beaded with 8mm red jasper, 8, 6, & 4mm carnelian, 4mm black onyx & 4 hand-crafted silver Balinese beads & finished with a silver figure 8 lobster clasp.
Pendant: 2.2 x 2.5" or 5.5 x 6cm
$375/available
P-CAR1
Length: 20"
Silver and copper hand-etched Tcherot or talismanic box beaded with 8mm donut apatite, 6mm round pietersite & 4mm black onyx. Contains throughout Tuareg hand-made silver 'nege nege' or polyhedral beads & finished with a silver toggle.
Pendant: 1.7 x 2" or 3.5 x 6cm
$350/available
P-AMC
Length: 19.5"
A magnificent Arnawal or 2 level hand-etched silver pendant. This one has 5 raised areas of inlaid ebony symbolic of the Hand of Fatima & is divided in the middle by a movable hinge. Etched X's on upper & lower parts along with the symbolic 5 create a powerful opposing force to negative energies. Beaded in a traditional manner with 6mm black onyx, solid silver faceted beads & 4 'azumums' or silver tubes. Clearly one of a kind.
Pendant: 2.6 x 3" or 8 x 7cm
$425/available
P-SIV
Length: 20.5"
Reverse side is etched with Tuareg decoration and signed in Tamasheck.
Hinge width: 3.5cm
A powerful 5 sections hand-etched silver Tcherot or talismanic box to protect one's personal power and physical self. Beaded in contemporary mode with 6mm black onyx, 6 & 8mm donut labradorite, 8mm lapis, 5mm solid silver faceted beads & finished with a silver toggle. This is an amazing adornment.
Tcherot: 1.5 x 2" or 4.5 x 5cm
$575/available
P-AML
Length: 19"
A superb example of classic Tuareg hand-etching.
Lapis & labradorite shown with silver toggle.
A stunning contemporary turquoise pendant reminiscent of Native American style. Set in pure silver and hand-etched twice around the center section in Tuareg fashion. Finished with a movable bail and ball.
Pendant: 3.5 x 6cm
$300/available
P-TUR1
A stunning green labradorite stone surrounded by the Cross of Tchin Tabaraden in pure silver. Un-etched & taking on the form of a visionary star of the ancient Sahara Desert.
Pendant: 5.5 x 8cm
$300/available
P-LAB
Kankaro, one of the most traditional of talismans worn by Tuareg men affixed to the side of their headdress or 'shesh'. It once held a saying, a poem, a verse from the Koran or a few grains of sand from the desert. Now it is often seen in the form of a pendant.This one holds a carnelian stone.
Kankaro: 4 x 5cm
$200/sold
P-CAR2
African cowry shell combined with pure silver to honor your connection to the Motherland. Completely hand-crafted in Niger, West Africa.
Pendant: 4.5 x 5.5cm
$150/available
P-CS1
The ancient lore of the African cowry shell blesses whoever wears this pendant with an eternal connection to the Motherland. Hand-crafted from pure silver in Niger, West Africa.
Pendant: 4.5 x 5cm
$150/sold
P-CS2
Khomeissa, a silver or shell pendant composed of 5 triangles, a variation of the Khamsa or Hand of Fatima worn by Muslims as a protection against the evil eye. The traditional Khomeissa worn by Tuareg women is made of leather & ostrich shell. A stunning piece, hand-etched & of pure silver.
Khomeissa: 6.5 x 7.5cm
$200/available
P-KHO
Silver & ebony hollow pendant with a movable hinge & point. Simple but elegant. Centerpiece of a necklace beaded with old B&W trade beads, green malachite, adventurine and 6mm black onyx.
Pendant: 2.5 x 5.5mm
$165/available
P-EBN
Truly a labor of love. The centerpiece is an old Kenyan wood & batiked bone bead flanked by 2 Malian red ambers. Beaded with 6 & 14mm turquoise, 4 & 6mm black onyx, 8mm red jasper, 8 heavy silver spacers & 2 12mm silver Turkish beads. Finished with a figure 8 silver lobster clasp.
$300/available
P-TUR2
Length: 21"
