Protection from the Evil eye Protection against the evil eye is a common practice in many cultures around the world, with various talismans, charms, and rituals used to ward off negative energy and bring good… Continue Reading
Marie Thérèse Thalers By Sarah Corbett Marie Thérèse Thalers are used as elements in silver jewellery and adornments in many counties. They are a visual representation of wealth. Marie Thérèse Thalers, also known… Continue Reading
Ancient Glass beads of Fustat By Sarah Corbett Fustat was a prominent city in Egypt that served as the capital of the country during the Umayyad and early Abbasid periods. It was a major center… Continue Reading
Rare Carved Beads from Mauritania These mysterious beads have always been highly desirable, and when rare examples reach the market there is always keen interest. These designs were made by one nomadic family in Mauritania… Continue Reading
Symbolism in Global Jewelry Sindi Schloss ISBN: 978-0-578-39268-4 Sindi Schloss is a graduate gemologist, jewellery appraiser and historian. Her involvement with a bead museum and world travel give Sindi a unique perspective on the… Continue Reading
Shine & Mistery The splendour and power of oriental jewellery. A review by Sarah Corbett Author : Knauf Museum Language : English ISBN-13 : 978-3961762170 Peter Hösli and Widad Kawar have… Continue Reading
Powerful Jewellery – Emancipation. By Sarah Corbett The Balangalan. Brazil. The number of enslaved African people who were trafficked to Brazil during the Atlantic Slave trave was higher than any other country. 12 million… Continue Reading
A Jewellery Journey Through Time By Sarah Corbett Let’s Share a journey… A journey to three places which have a jewel connection. Let’s explore the reasons behind these connections. India, Yemen, Oman. The drive to… Continue Reading
Future Generation Silversmiths Djerba_ Tunisia By Mustafa J. Salem Many people think that most traditional silversmiths who craft ethnic jewellery have disappeared over time and that modern mechanical techniques have replaced the old… Continue Reading
Creating Scented Paste Tanit Pendants By Charlotte Dakin-Norris I was commissioned by Sarah Corbett to make a limited run of 30 Tanit pendants using scented paste. Step 1 – The DesignThe Punic Goddess Tanit has… Continue Reading
Ikat from Timor and it’s Outer Islands -Insular and Interwoven A review by Sarah Corbett Publisher : Sidestone Press Title : Ikat from Timor and it’s Outer Islands. Insular and Interwoven. Author : Peter Ten Hoopen ISBN… Continue Reading
Adorned by Nature A Review by Sarah Corbett Publisher : At One Communications (1 Jan. 2022)Author : Wolfgang GrulkeLanguage : EnglishPaperback : 400 pagesISBN-10 : … Continue Reading
Eastern Treasures A Review by Sarah Corbett Occasionally a book knocks the ball out of the park!.... This is that book. Title: Eastern TreasuresAuthor: Oytun Elviyazade CamcigilPublisher: Gilgmesh PublishingISBN:978-1-908531-57-5 This beautifully printed… Continue Reading
Palestinian Folk Embroidery By Hala Munther Salem Introduction I was invited to an online Zoom meeting last week where Hala was giving a presentation about the textiles of her homeland. Hala lives in… Continue Reading
Online Jewellery classes with Sigrid Van Roode Renowned jewellery historian Sigrid van Roode is always at the forefront of innovative projects, her latest project is perfect for lockdown learning for all of… Continue Reading
Berber Memories A book review by Sarah Corbett Publisher : Yale University Press (22 Oct. 2020)Language : EnglishHardcover : 480 pagesISBN-10 : 0300253958ISBN-13 : 978-0300253955 When I travelled with my family in the early 2000's in remote… Continue Reading
Baningal – Northern Luzon The Bontoc/Ifuago inhabit the southern Cordillera Central region in the rugged highlands of Northern Luzon, this region comprises some of the highest mountains in the Philippines. The area is historically… Continue Reading
Kadambari Jewels Jewels which give back. Kadambari Jewels is a unique brand founded by Rashantha Devanesan in 2009. Rashantha sources the raw materials for her pieces from North Africa to Nepal, India,… Continue Reading
Bedouin Silver A woman with a passion for jewels and their significance - Sigrid Van Roode. Sigrid van Roode is an Egyptologist by training, and it was in Egypt that she first… Continue Reading
Baraka and Adornment Moroccan adornment related to Baraka by Sarah Corbett In Morocco and other Islamic countries the concept of Baraka is the purity and virtue of a saint and also the source… Continue Reading
The Art of Recycled Glass Beads A book review by Sarah Corbett The Art of Recycled Glass beads.Philippe J. Kradolfer / Nomoda E. Djaba.ISBN: 978-1-7923-2241-9 Beads:"People all around the world have found a way to express… Continue Reading
Researching Where to begin. By Sarah Corbett There are some incredibly useful groups for jewel, adornment and textile lovers on Facebook . These are the places which can give a starting… Continue Reading
Granulation By Sarah Corbett Granulation is a jewellery making technique which uses grains of metal to create a textured surface. High purity Gold and silver alloys are generally used in the… Continue Reading
Beaded nets from Egyptian burials By Sarah Corbett Ancient depictions of Egyptian Women often feature patterns which suggest lozenges. Dresses which have been reconstructed from beads found at Burial sites suggest that these ancient Egyptian… Continue Reading
The Spoon by Barbara Steinberg Underneath the rubble of the Warsaw Ghetto, the earth kept its secrets. Common objects survived in the soil, even though fire and demolition destroyed the area after… Continue Reading
Riikka Palonen the Bonemaiden Riikka Palonen . No waste! Agriculture and animal husbandry moved to the area now known as Finland relatively late, around 2800-2500 BC. Finns were a hunting nation - or we… Continue Reading
Book Review Splendour and Shine in the River of TimeReview by Sarah Corbett 2020Irene SteinerISBN 978-3-9524770-8-3Liechtensteiniches Landes Museum For those who enjoy the material culture of the people of the world, this… Continue Reading
Mansa Musa Salt and Gold When we think of the world's richest man we may consider contemporary tech giants or retail billionaires; however the richest man who ever lived was the ruler… Continue Reading
Splendor and Shine in the River of Time Traditional Jewellery and Costumes throughout the Life course. Exhibition in the Liechtenstein National MuseumBy Irene Steiner Exhibition period 5/21/2020 to 9/20/2020 www.landesmuseum.li Adornments and traditional costumes are part of our… Continue Reading
Ryijy in Finland By Riikka Palonen Ryijy in Finland – tradition and new creativity Last autumn, 2019, the Ministry of Education and Culture in Finland inscribed ”ryijy” tradition on the National Inventory of… Continue Reading
Moche The World of the Moche, by Barbara Steinberg. On the North Coast of Peru, a line of extreme environments begins with the Pacific Ocean, is edged by a sandy strip… Continue Reading
Book Review Himalayan Treasures - by Manfred GiehmannReview by Sarah Corbett Author : Manfred GiehmannPhotographs: Chrisitian J CreutzISBN: 9789811406560Pages: 264 This attractive book is filled with beautiful jewels which have been arranged… Continue Reading
Henna Cloth By Sarah Corbett Henna cloth is a deeply symbolic form of textile art which was historically made and worn by the women of Southern Morocco. The pieces vary in size… Continue Reading
Fabric of Life By Sarah Corbett From our birth until our death we are placed in contact with cloth. We swaddle our young and shroud our dead. Cloth is a close companion to… Continue Reading
Tihuna By Sarah Corbett The drive to adorn oneself is considered by some to be one of the most basic human drives, following closely the need to procreate and survive. The… Continue Reading
Pambadam Earrings By Barbara Ann Steinberg Pambadam earrings combine traditional female customs in Tamil Nadu with the northern Krishna-cult story of the Naga Kaliya. The earring is a stylized cobra coiled on… Continue Reading
Kundan Mina Kundan Mina Work in Jaipur by Barbara Steinberg An Indian necklace commands presence by magnificent jewels set in pure gold, known as a Kundan setting. Before mirrors were invented, a… Continue Reading
Carthaginian Trade By Sarah Corbett The Carthaginians traded their wares in the Mediterranean Sea and further afield, to Britain and Mauritania during the 7th - 3 rd centuries BC. The ritual of… Continue Reading
Podcasts I have been working with Michael Backman to produce a series of podcasts, covering a wide array of topics related to decorative arts. The podcast project has been a great… Continue Reading
The Betel Nut by Barbara Steinberg Narcotics cover the world and time. Some have become licit, as they accessorize common ceremonies and social interactions. In tropical South Asia, the Areca Catechu palm tree… Continue Reading
Chinese Jade Pendants by Barbara Steinberg China’s history is not linear. It doesn’t follow a musical scale from one note to the next. Instead, power twists like a fugue, changing keys, direction, and… Continue Reading
Paint it Black A biography of Kohl. Jolanda BosA review by Sarah Corbett ISBN number 978-94-92940-07-0 It was my good fortune to see Jolanda Bos launch this wonderful book at an event at… Continue Reading
Wild Beads of Africa Billy Steinberg A review by Sarah Corbett ISBN: 978-0-692-90710-8 When the passion of a collector and the precision of a researcher meet, the results have the potential to be spectacular.When… Continue Reading
Book Review Ethnic Jewellery and Adornment – by Truus Daalder Author: Truus Daalder Photographs: Jeremy DaalderEditor: Joost Daalder ISBN: 978-1-921394-28-7 Published by Ethnic Art Press, Adelaide, 2009 andMacmillan, Melbourne, 2009 Ethnic Jewellery and Adornment This impressive… Continue Reading
Collector – Patti Deany I collect antique textiles, primarily Islamic, –embroidery, tapestry, weaving, quilting — as opposed to carpets which are not only more expensive but more susceptible to counterfeiting and false aging. These… Continue Reading
Research – Hive mind by Sarah Corbett and Alaa Eddine Sagid From time to time a collective approach to study brings new insight into a piece of jewellery. Jewellery Forum www.ethnicjewels.ning.com has several of these… Continue Reading
Amber by Sarah Corbett Found all over the world, Amber is a fossilised tree resin.Not only prized for it’s obvious aesthetic properties, Amber has long been associated with magical power. Thus… Continue Reading
Amber and it’s copies A guide to identification by Sarah Corbett Many materials have been sold throughout the years with the name tag ‘Amber’. In this article we shall look at some of them… Continue Reading
Pumtek Burmese beads of Petrified wood by Sarah Corbett There are many types of petrified wood in Burma. Petrified wood is wood which has been turned to stone. This is the… Continue Reading
Chatelaine by Sarah Corbett A chatelaine is a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with a series of chains suspended from it. Each chain is mounted with a… Continue Reading
Ogahuru The Ancient Japanese custom of blackening the teeth by Sarah Corbett It was popular in Japan until the Merji era (1868 – 1912) Early traces of the custom have been… Continue Reading
Himba by Sarah Corbett The Himba of Northern Namibia are and ancient tribe. These visually stunning people survive by herding cattle and goats. Their lifestyle has changed little since the 16th century,… Continue Reading
Mongolian clothing by Sarah Corbett The ‘deel’ is an item of Mongolian traditional clothing. A unisex item, which is still worn outside the major towns and cities. The ‘deel’ is not unique… Continue Reading
Oceanic Beadwork An example of Beadwork from Oceana circa 1020 by Truus Daalder When my husband Joost and I had reached the cut-off point for including items in my book Ethnic Jewellery and… Continue Reading
Scented Paste Scented paste beads of North Africa by Leonor Arnó There’s a type of adornment in Northern Africa that is well known in all Maghreb: the scented beads necklace, called “Skhab”,… Continue Reading
Fibula by Sarah Corbett The fibula is an ancient form of brooch which is not only decorative, but also has a practical purpose as a fastener for clothing. The first fibula… Continue Reading
Idar Oberstein Agates of Idar Oberstein by Sarah Corbett Idar Oberstein in Germany has been a centre for stone cutting for over 500 years. Deposits of Amethyst and Agate discovered in the… Continue Reading
Kayapo by Sarah Corbett The Kayapo people are an indigenous tribe from the Mato Grosso and Para plains of Brazil. They live along the Xingo river in the East of the… Continue Reading
Ta Moko by Sarah Corbett Ta Moko is the practice in New Zealand by the indigenous Maori people of adorning the face with black spiralled designs.These designs were traditionally chiselled into the… Continue Reading
Rudraksha by Sarah Corbett Rudraksha is a large evergreen tree from Asia. The seeds of the tree are used to Make Mala ( prayer beads) A Mala consists of 108 beads… Continue Reading
Saharan trade routes by Alaa Eddine Sagid Since the first travel accounts of Morocco were made by Arab and European explorers during the Middle Ages the jewellery of North Africa has aroused great… Continue Reading
Facial Tattooing Of Berber Women by Sarah Corbett Tattoos in a tribal context are as much a communicator as they are a means of Adornment. They can be understood in the capacity… Continue Reading
Mamuli by Sarah Corbett The Mamuli hails from the island of Sumba in Eastern Indonesia, and is considered to be the most important of their golden ritual gift items. Originally worn… Continue Reading
Ashanti Gold by Sarah Corbett The great kingdom of Ashanti was built upon the golden riches which lay beneath it’s soil. The Ashanti Kingdoms began to develop in the mid 16th century,… Continue Reading
Lignam by Sarah Corbett A Lingam necklace is a silver casket worn to contain a piece of smooth oval stone called a Lingum. The Lingam ( Ishtalinga) stone is a natural… Continue Reading
Rings Gallery A selection of rings from all around the world, showing the diversity of design and variation of materials. Rings are worn to show status and wealth and are the most… Continue Reading
Tattoo Gallery Tattoos around the world by Sarah Corbett. The most permanent method of adornment is to mark or pierce the skin. This is a practice which reaches back into history. One… Continue Reading
Spirit Locks Spirit Locks of the Hmong by Sarah Corbett Spirit Locks are pendants worn by the Hmong and Akha hill tribe people of Thailand, Burma and Laos. Traditionally these Padlock- esque… Continue Reading
Tillya Kosh Bridal forehead decoration There existed in the 19th century in Bukhara the largest and finest collective of Islamic Artists and craftsmen. The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least… Continue Reading
Prayer Beads by Leonor Arno Pons In western cultures we may associate prayer beads to Christianity and Middle Ages. In fact their use is universal and pre-dates the Christian Era. Even today… Continue Reading
Niello Techniques and processes by Sarah Corbett Niello, is a black metallic alloy of sulfur with silver, copper, or lead that is used to fill designs that have been engraved on… Continue Reading
Asyk by Sarah Corbett Worn by the Turkoman peoples of Central Asia, the asyk is an imposing adornment which is suspended from the hair by use of plaits as a back… Continue Reading
Guedra by Sarah Corbett The word Guedra represents several aspects of a form of dance which is particular to Southern Morocco, Mauritania and Algeria. The primary meaning is cooking pot, when… Continue Reading
Siam Silver Ya Thom by Sarah Corbett Siam silver is a style of silver jewellery usually with niello décor, although brightly coloured or white enamel is also seen. The niello of Siam… Continue Reading
Yukagir The Evans Tribal Group, Yukagir peoples of Siberia by Sarah Corbett The Yukaghir live in East Siberia in the basin of the Kolyma river. In 2002 a census recorded a… Continue Reading
Kayan People Of Burma by Sarah Corbett The Kayan people are a Tibeto – Burman ethnic minority of Burma. They consist of six tribal groups. The women of these tribal groups identify… Continue Reading
Puabi Queen of Ur by Sarah Corbett During the first dynasty of Ur (Ca 2600 BCE) a women priestess or queen lived. Ur was an important Sumerian city-state, which is located… Continue Reading
Woad Woad in the UK by Sarah Corbett Woad is a flowering plant of the Brassicaceae family which produces blue colouring. It has been produced since the stone age, with two… Continue Reading
Tibetan Ornaments Tibetan Ornaments worn on the belt or attached to clothes by Truus Daalder Many ornaments were sewn onto the clothes of Tibetan nomads by means of lugs, as protective amulets… Continue Reading
Belarusian Ruchnik by Sarah Corbett A ruchnik is a traditional ornamental towel. This towel is a piece of textile which embodies many significant concepts within Belarusian life. In fact the ruchnik are… Continue Reading
Mapuche Mapuche Traditional Adornment by Leonor Arno Mapuche ethnic adornment is the great unknown for lovers of ethnic jewelry. Being a silversmith work without major technical challenges, it has great aesthetic… Continue Reading
Asrou n swoul by Sarah Corbett The attire of a Tuareg woman of the African Sahara consists of a large rectangular piece of fabric. The fabric, also known as Mellhafa is held in… Continue Reading
Amber beads A developing story of Moroccan trade by Sarah Corbett Since December last year (2014) not a day passes without an e mail or message from potential clients asking me for… Continue Reading
Crowns The gold crowns of Mycenae,Bactria and Silla by Barbara Steinberg According to archeological finds by Heinrich Schliemann, an elliptical gold diadem with removable crown-ornaments was first discovered in a Mycenaean funerary… Continue Reading
Bogolan Mud cloth - Bogolan by Sarah Corbett Mud cloth is a type of fabric which is made by the Bamana peoples of Mali in West Africa. The cotton fabric is… Continue Reading
Moroccan Judaica by Barbara Steinberg Jewish traders and farmers have lived in Morocco’s cities and Atlas mountains since the time of the Roman Empire. However, the most notable Jewish immigration to Morocco… Continue Reading
Nath by Sarah Corbett A nath is a piece of jewellery used in India which is worn through a piercing in the nose. Nath are worn extensively by Indian women, however… Continue Reading
Scarification Scarification in Africa by Sarah Corbett Scarification is a permanent form of adornment which has been practised throughout history. Evidence from Saharan rock paintings suggest it’s use in 8000 –… Continue Reading
Etruscan Jewellery by Sarah Corbett The Etruscan people were a sophisticated, luxury loving people who lived in Northern Italy 800 – 400 BC. They were astute traders, and had great wealth. Wealthy… Continue Reading
Heart of Darkness The Congo, by Barbara Steinberg The Luba Empire was a pre-colonial Central African state, which was founded by King Kongolo Maniema, c. 1585. The Hemba people were incorporated because they… Continue Reading
Ladakh Headdresses By Truus Daalder Between the Kunlun and Himalayan mountains, in the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir lies the kingdom of Ladakh. Its capital, Leh, was an important stop on… Continue Reading
Seneca Iroquois Stanley Hill, SR., and Seneca Iroquois combs by Kajetan Fiedorowicz Many contemporary tribal artists reach to their nations’ historical sources for inspiration, which provides for a certain continuation of tradition.… Continue Reading
Holy Land, Holy Market by Alaa Eddine Sagid At the southern edge of the Anatolian plateau lies Sanliurfa, a city shrouded in mysticism and history Famed among Muslims as the place where prophet Abraham´s… Continue Reading
Natalia Shabelsky by Sarah Corbett Natalia Shabelsky (1841- 1905) was a lady with a true passion. This Russian noblewoman devoted her life to the conservation of endangered folk art traditions. Natalia travelled… Continue Reading
Naxi People by Sarah Corbett The Naxi people live in Yunnan province China. They migrated to the region from the yellow river area to south China in 770 – 221 BC and… Continue Reading
Tanimbar Comb A comb from Tanimbar. Maluku Provence, Indonesia. By Truus Daalder. In my book Ethnic Jewellery and Adornment (Ethnic Art Press and Macmillan, 2009), I described and illustrated (p. 170) a… Continue Reading
Kara and Kirpan by Sarah Corbett In 1699 Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhism, created the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib. This occasion transformed Sikhs into a family of soldier saints. During… Continue Reading
Li Hairpins The incised bone hairpins of the Li ethnic minority, China by Gina Hellweger. The Li ethnic minority lives mainly in the center and south of Hainan Province. According to historical… Continue Reading
Frances Wright by Barbara Steinberg Many women practice their art secretly. Emily Dickinson had fewer than 12 poems published in her lifetime until her sister Lavinia discovered 1800 of them in a… Continue Reading
Footbinding by Sarah Corbett For 1000 years tiny curved feet were considered the ultimate level of beauty in China. During this period around 3 billion women bound their feet.The most likely… Continue Reading
Aggrab Al Fadda by Sarah Corbett Sometimes in the world of bead collecting a style of bead comes to the foreground in terms of interest and desirability. In recent years the Aggrab Al… Continue Reading
The Kiani Crown by Sarah Corbett This opulent and splendid crown was worn for coronations in Iran during the Qajar dynasty (1796 – 1925) The Kayanian are a dynasty of Iranian legend, the… Continue Reading
Bindi By Sarah Corbett Traditionally worn in India a bindi is a decoration of the forehead, usually a red dot, although other colours and jewelled versions are also used. The bindi… Continue Reading
Zuni By Sarah Corbett The Zuni people of the American South west are a peaceful people, whose lives and beliefs are closely tied to the mountains, deserts and forests of their… Continue Reading
Jet By Sarah Corbett Jet is a minor gemstone which is derived from wood which has been subject to high pressure over millions of years. It is along with Amber one… Continue Reading
Maasai By Sarah Corbett The Maasai people live nomadically in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, also known as the great lakes region. The origins of the Maasai people has been traced… Continue Reading
Travelling for Jewels By Sarah Corbett My journey with jewellery started in a tiny High Atlas village in Morocco around 17 years ago. I was running a company which set up fair trade… Continue Reading
Headscratchers A war against vermin by Jen Cruise This object may be unfamiliar to most people – it is a head scratcher or scratching stick (gratoir) and typical examples are shown… Continue Reading
Seduced by Symbols A personal perspective on Tuareg and Ethiopian talismanic Jewellery by Lloyd. D. Graham In February 2009, I bought a Tuareg “magic square” ring – actually, both my first and my… Continue Reading
Nose Rings Nose Rings in Pre-Columbian Civilisations by Barbara Steinberg Civilizations are finite. Time, climate change, conquerors, and assimilation transform peoples. Blood mixes. Ideas meld. The center cannot hold. Beginning around… Continue Reading
Zaouli By Sarah Corbett Zaouli is a mask of the Dje LaLou. The Gouro ethnic group from Manfla in the Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa, uses it in a traditional mask dance… Continue Reading
Catacomb Saints By Sarah Corbett Between the 16th and 19th century, by order of the Vatican thousands of ancient Roman corpses were exhumed from the catacombs of Rome.These skeletal remains were given… Continue Reading
Mangbetu Hair Pin by Barbara Steinberg On 10 December 2014, Sotheby’s Paris held an auction of African and Oceanic Art consisting of 105 exquisite lots. The inspirational connection between Modernism and African art… Continue Reading
Ineka Hemmiga and the Tuareg Ineka Hemmiga and the Tuareg, Blue men of the Sahara Rarely do people evolve their identity and live the connection between Europe and Africa. Ineke Hemminga, a Dutch national has… Continue Reading
Silver treasures from the land of Sheba. Silver treasures from the land of Sheba. by Marjorie Ransomreview by Sarah Corbett Author – Marjorie Ransom Photography – Robert K . Liu ISBN – 978 977 416 600 6… Continue Reading
Swar Bolt Bracelets Ouled Nail defense bracelets by Sarah Corbett The Ouled Nail are a semi nomadic people living in the Saharan Atlas Mountains, They are believed to be Berber people who have… Continue Reading
Sadhvi By Sarah Corbett Around 10% of Sadhus are women, they are called Sadhvis, most women become Sadhvi following the death of their husband, so young Sadhvi are rarely seen. A… Continue Reading
Lady of Cao by Sarah Corbett In 2006 a female mummy was found in Peru. She was discovered at El Brujo, an archaeological site which is 45km north of Trujillo in the La… Continue Reading
Ama . Pearl Divers Pearl divers of Japan by Sarah Corbett The word ‘Ama’ means ‘Sea women’. The Ama are believed to have been in existence for 2000 years. The Ama women specialised in… Continue Reading
Khamsa By Sarah Corbett The Khamsa or Hamesh is an amulet in the form of a hand, which is popular throughout North Africa and the Middle East. It is worn by… Continue Reading
Whang Od Last Batok Artist of Kalinga by Sarah Corbett In a small village called Buscalan in Kalinga, The Philippines A woman called Whang Od is possibly the last of her kind.… Continue Reading
Alexander McQueen By Barbara Steinberg He flew — too high. “It’s a new era in fashion — there are no rules,” he stated as if everyone should obviously know. Polar opposites drew… Continue Reading
Taikomochi By Sarah Corbett The original Geisha of Japan were called Taikomochi or Hokan. They were men. The word Hokan means a jester, and the word Taikomochi means drum beater.The Taikomochi… Continue Reading
Rashaida The Clothing of the Nomadic people of Eritrea, By Sarah Corbett. The elaborate clothing of a Rashaida woman in instantly recognisable, the rich and intricate silver embroidery of the veils… Continue Reading
Slovak Blue Cloth By Sarah Corbett Blue (indigo) printing was a flourishing art form in Slovakia 50 years ago; 5 years ago the last remaining traditional artisan (Stanislav Tmka) in this ancient technique… Continue Reading
Gache Korean Wigs and their accessories by Sarah Corbett A Gache (or Dari) was a large wig which originated in Northern Korea.. Originally worn by Korean women of high status and… Continue Reading
Sri Lanka Coastal Sri Lankan 19th Century Jewellery by Michael Backman A significant quantity of jewellery was produced in Sri Lanka in the nineteenth and into the early twentieth century for local… Continue Reading
Symbolists By Barbara Ann Steinberg Art Nouveau’s main ingredients were the Symbolists, who believed that art should reflect the truth indirectly as if in a dream; the flat perspective and strong… Continue Reading
Art and Risk in Ancient Yoruba Art and Risk in Ancient Yoruba, C. 1300AD, by Prof. Suzanne Preston Blier, Harvard University. A review by Barbara Steinberg. Suzanne Preston Blier is our guide and intellectual archaeologist, unearthing… Continue Reading
Carnelians of Gujerat By Sarah Corbett Carnelian has been greatly prized by many cultures. It has been a very desirable element of jewellery and adornment throughout history. Each piece of Carnelian is unique.… Continue Reading
Korean Hanbok By Sarah Corbett The Hanbok is traditionally worn by Korean people. It was worn on a daily basis until around 100 years ago. The earliest evidence of this style of… Continue Reading
Adornment of Unity #Jezwecan the adornment of unity by Sarah Corbett Jewellery has been used as a tool of communication throughout history. Jewellery has the ability to convey a message to others. During… Continue Reading
Art of Celts? The untruths we learned from the art of the Victorian Celtic revival. By Sarah Corbett The Celts were a branch of the Indo -Europeans. Proto Celtic people from the Balkans… Continue Reading
Khayamia By Sarah Corbett Khayamia is a rich and decorative appliqué textile. The intricate textile was historically used to adorn the interiors of Beautiful Egyptian tents called Suradeq.It is believed that the… Continue Reading
Combs and Saints Of Combs and Saints, by Barbara Steinberg It was a time before nations. Celtic tribes ruled Gaul until they were conquered by the Roman Empire (121 – 51 BC). In the… Continue Reading
Pafta Belts Pafta Belts of the Balkans by Gratiela Buzic Belts and buckles : who wore them and why? Belts with metal buckles have been very popular items in the female dress… Continue Reading
Tibetan Gau By Leonor Arno The charm box pendant called the ga’u originated in Tibet. This sort of jewellery is in wide use throughout the western and eastern sub-Himalayan area by tribes… Continue Reading
The Song of Solomon How beautiful are your feet in shoes? The song of Solomon. What is the story of the shoe? By Sarah Corbett Throughout history designers of shoes have elevated them from… Continue Reading
Pitt Rivers Museum By Sarah Corbett The collection of the General Pitt Rivers, a 19th century soldier and scholar is a wonderful sensory onslaught. His thirst to discover and to develop his understanding… Continue Reading
The Global City A book Launch at the London Gallery of Michael Backman. Review and comment by Sarah Corbett by Annemarie Jordan Gschwend (Editor), K.J.P. Lowe (Editor) Publisher: Paul Holberton Publishing (December 19, 2015)ISBN-13: 978-1907372889 A bridge between the world… Continue Reading
The Quai Branly By Alaa Eddine Sagid Celebrated as the main cultural project of former French president Jacques Chirac, it eventuallyconfirmed the prominent role claimed by Paris as the world capital for indigenous… Continue Reading
Beads of Southern Morocco. By Sarah Corbett Many of the exquisite ensembles of North African jewellery include handmade silver beads.The Jewish silversmiths of Southern Morocco were famed for their exceptional workmanship. The Jewish Berber… Continue Reading
Tara of Gran Canaria By Sarah Corbett Tara, fertility goddess of Gran Canaria was discovered in a cave in Telde on the Eastern coast of the island. The terracotta clay statue is 27 cm… Continue Reading
Egypt’s Wearable Heritage by Jolanda Bos Jolanda Bos is an archaeologist who has been travelling to Egypt for over 25 years. From the 1990s onwards she has worked in different excavations in the… Continue Reading
Belongings in the Land of the Iceni by Natasha Harlow This paper explores the social and cultural transitions which occurred during the late Iron Age and early Roman periods (circa 100 BCE-200 CE) in the modern counties… Continue Reading
Tensifa by Sarah Corbett Tetouan is a town in Northern Morocco with Strong Historical links to Grenada. In 1492 the Nasrid dynasty surrendered their rule of the Emirate of Granada. The… Continue Reading
The Southern Cross by Alaa Eddine Sagid The Southern cross, Boghdad/Boghdod or Moghdad is widely seen in West Africa and Southern Morocco. This type of pendant seems to be strongly connected to the Moors, and… Continue Reading
Beads. A History and Collectors Guide by Stefany Tomalin ISBN 978 – 4456 – 5865 – 0Amberley books Stefany Tomalin is a name which is synonymous with the bead collecting communities of the UK and beyond.… Continue Reading
A Story Of Two Rings by Truus Daalder This story really starts with an electrical fault in our house. The electrical firm promised to send our usual, pleasant and utterly competent electrician after he had… Continue Reading
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