Gilded Ear Ornaments from the Katawaz Peoples

Description:

Gilded Silver and blue glass ear pendants; they originate from the Islamic people of the Katawaz basin along the border of Afghanistan/Pakistan

Length about 13,5cm

Silver (part of it gilded), Glassbeads

19th century

Perfect condition

These pendants were worn from the hair and headdress adjacent to the ears, being too heavy to be suspended from the ears. They comprise a “basket” from which a “flowering tree” grows and are fabricated from embossed silver gilt plaques attached to the silver base  and trimmed with dozens of blue glass beads secured by fine wire.

Ear Pendants of similar form are illustrated in Ethnic Jewellery from Africa, Asia and Pacific Islands

and

Al-Jadir,S., Arab & Islamic Silver

BREE