Scented Necklace
This large-scale and bold necklace features a number of elements that would have not only beautified but also protected the Amazigh (Berber) woman who wore it. The generous use of coral references the local belief that this gemstone provided baraka, or blessing, particularly surrounding women, like fertility and childbirth. A hand-shaped motif known as a khamsa (literally "five") serves as the pendant, and is among the most common talismanic elements found in the Middle East and North Africa. Here, it would have protected the wearer from the effects of the evil eye. The dark beads, known as "skhab," are made from a scented paste made of a variety of ingredients including ambergris, rose petals, cloves, saffron, nutmeg, and musk. The alluring scent created by these beads, activated when in contact with the wearer’s skin, were believed to be a powerful aphrodisiac. For this reason, this type of necklace was most often worn by a married woman.
Artwork Details
- Title: Scented Necklace
- Date: 19th–first half 20th century
- Geography: Attributed to Algeria
- Medium: Silver, coral, organic material
- Classification: Jewelry
- Credit Line: Bequest of Helen Winslow Durkee Mileham, 1954
- Object Number: 55.111.63
- Curatorial Department: Islamic Art
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19th–first half 20th century
19th century
first half 20th century
19th–first half 20th century
19th–first half 20th century
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