Silver Nubian bracelets from Egypt
Nubian jewelry is not so well known as other regional jewelry. It is often included and labeled as Egyptian, which is also true, as Nubian people inhabit the regions of South Egypt and North Sudan.
Jewelry plays an important part in the Nubian marriage rites and traditions, and it is an important component in a woman’s dowry. Gold is a desired part of the dowry, but also silver pieces are added like the kind of bracelets shown in this post.
The bracelets are massive casted silver pieces and very heavy to wear. The bands of silver are decorated with larger and smaller studs, arranged in sets of three across the surface. The silver bands are found in groups with different numbers of bands soldered together at the ends.
Jewelry is savings for bad times
Even in the most difficult of circumstances, a Nubian woman will never let go of her jewelry, which she dearly cherishes. To do otherwise would shame her among her people.
But sometimes times are hard, and pieces like these bracelets are of extraordinary help, by cutting off one or more of the bands to sell them separately in exchange for money or goods, while the rest of the bracelet is worn with the reduced number of bands. This picture of the left shows an example of bracelets that had some bands cut to be sold.
For more information:
“Desert silver”, van Roode, Sigrid, Blkvld uitgevers publishers, 2017
“The traditional jewelry of Egypt”, Fahmy, Azza, AUC Press, 2015
“Egypt’s wearable Heritage”, Bos, Jolanda, Blkvld uitgevers publishers, 2016
