Featured North African Bracelet Coral and Enameled

Bracelet is 7/8" wide and has enameled work with coral stones. Someone etched inside Oran North Africa 1943 C. Fagan M. Fagan With Love. A magnet does not stick but it is not marked sterling or anything else. Any info on this type of bracelet is appreciated.

 

Oh, isn't that sweet? There's a story there. Bought towards the end of the North African campaign. You'll find similars if you Google "enamel Berber bracelet."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewellery_of_the_Berber_cultures

Debora

 

Thank you Debora.

 

It is a classic Algerian Kabyle Berber bracelet.
It is silver, and may be marked with minute marks. They could be inside the hinge or on the rim, look for tiny indentations.

 

What state did you find it in?

Debora

 

It was made for the tourist trade. The Kabyle have been making souvenir jewellery since the late 19th century.
The work looks a bit rushed, with the enamel spilling over the 'cloisons'. Kabyle enamel is usually made with more attention to things like that, but it still has those wonderful colours, especially that amazing Kabyle blue.

The coral is Mediterranean red coral, probably imported from nearby Italy.

 

Thanks for all the info Any!

Debora. Rhode Island

 

The sloppy (for them) enamel makes sense with the date. Soldiers pouring in and needing pieces to sell them and all that.

 

Nice to have the inscription inside!

Lots of reproductions of Berber bracelets out of India, not silver but looks the part. You know what they say about imitation and flattery

nice find!

 

Morocco also reproduces Kabyle enamels, and they're getting better at it, with some beautiful results.

Moroccan Berbers also made/make enameled jewellery, but their colours are different and traditionally they didn't use as much enamel, nor did they combine it as much with coral.

 

Thanks Jewelry and Any! Would anyone know what silver purity was used?

 

The lowest that was used in Algeria at the time was .500. I think this is a bit higher though, but if you want to know it is best to test it.

Most collectors of ethnic jewellery won't care about the exact fineness, they look at other factors, like authenticity, quality of the work, and age. Mediteranean coral is a bonus, as is size.
Does it fit around an average Western (European) wrist?