Producer unknown to us
Braid jewellery
Africa, Morocco, Ktaoua/ Ktawa
20th century
Silver, coral, amber, shell, glass, agate, carnelian
Ümit Bir (gynaecologist) acquired the braid jewellery in Hanover on April 4, 2001
On permanent loan from the Dr. Bir Collection Foundation
SB 1961
Braid jewellery like this one from Ktaoua (Ktawa) was widespread throughout the Dra Valley in Morocco. The rings (mzuna), carved from a sea snail, and the cone-shaped pendants (l-mhagen) were considered to be protective charms filled with fasuh. This is a gum resin that is mixed with a substance made from dates and used to make the scented paste of the same name.
Gynaecologist Ümit Bir (1929–2014) gathered most of his collection on several trips from Marocco to India from the 1960s to the 1990s. Unfortunately, we still do not know the exact circumstances of the acquisition of this object. Since 2004, the collection has been on permanent loan to the museum from the Dr. Bir Collection Foundation.
Jan König