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• Handcrafted
Carnelian Talhakimt Pendant from the Tuareg Tribe, Circa late
1800s (Origin: Mali; Collected: Darfur)
• Handcrafted Aja Venetian Trade Beads, Circa late 1800s
(Origin: Venice; Collected: Africa)
• Antique Old Metal Bells, Circa late 1800s (Origin: Nigeria;
Collected: Nigeria)
• Antique Tuareg Tribe Old Metal Tubes, Circa late 1800s or
early 1900s (Origin: Mali; Collected: Mali
• Dark Brown Greek Leather Cord
• Length: 18” – Pendant: 3.25”
N0909-106: $325.00
(free S&H)
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TALHAKIMT PENDANT:
The Talhakimt is used as an amulet by the Tuareg People in
Northern Africa. The Tuareg are predominately nomadic and are
often referred to as “Blue Men of the Desert” because their
robes are dyed indigo blue. They are a proud race of people,
famous for their fighting abilities and are excellent
craftsmen renowned for their indigo cloth, gold and silver
jewelry, and carved wooden masks. In recent times, the Tuareg
have been abandoning their nomadic way of life and taking up
sedentary lifestyles. Tuareg pieces are quite distinguishable
due to their shapes, markings and geometric symbols. The form
of the Talhakimt has a triangular body and rounded top, was
made in glass, agate, and plastic and usually worn as a
necklace or hair ornament. The red carnelian Talhakimt were
the most valuable among the Tuareg of Darfur and in the past,
cost a riding camel or a female slave. It was worn most often
by women and may have originated as a fertility charm.
AJA VENETIAN TRADE BEADS: “Aja”or “Eja” beads were made in
Venice (late 1800s) and altered in Africa in the early 1900s.
These were made from drawn tubes of glass which were then
cooled and cut into small slices. Once cut, the slices of
drawn cane were then exposed to heat until the glass softened
(slumped), the beads flattened somewhat, and their hard cut
edges also softened and rounded. There seems to be no Venetian
sample cards showing these slumped slices as ever being sold
from Venice, although the cane they were made from was
certainly from Venice. Based on this, some experts speculate
the slumping process was made in Africa and then there are
other experts think the process took place in Venice when
making the beads. Few of the original Venetian “sample cards”
still exist today. The word “Aja” means something akin to dog
or fish in Africa and was given this name by the Africans to
these beautiful and unusual beads.
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