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Anteeka

Vintage Double Layered Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era

Vintage Double Layered Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era

Regular price $450.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $450.00 USD
Sale Sold out

This is a rare late 19th century, to early 20th-century necklace from the Ottoman era. Known as kirdan or gerdanlik was worn in wide areas from the Caucasus to North Africa across the Ottoman Empire with many variations. I am not entirely sure as to where specifically this is from, but my guess would be North African: Egyptian, Algerian, or Tunisian (chiriya).  A similar necklace can be seen in this antique postcard picture from Algeria:

 

But it could equally be Egyptian. See here an antique picture of a woman wearing a similar necklace that more closely resembles this necklace:

 

The necklace has three tiers. The first is a snake-shaped element strung on a silver chain. The mid-tier is another repousse element that has more of an elongated shape and is likely to be a stylized fish, a creature associated with happiness and fertility in many cultures. The dangles are simple disc-shaped elements, that stand in for coins.

The whole necklace tests positive for silver on a scratch test and closes with a hook and eye mechanism. It is in good vintage condition.

Length is 41.5 cm (16 1/2"). The drop is 9 cm (3 1/2"). Weight is 57.7 g.

 

 


 

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