1: Southern Morocco: three very old hair rings made of silver. With a broad ring section topped with a roughly rectangular box which is hollow on the inside and always on two levels, decorated on the top with a conical point. This hair jewellery comes from the southern Moroccan region stretching from Agadir to the Akka oasis and beyond (crossing over to the Sahara). Women would tightly pack the inner cavity of the box of a hair ring of this type with wool. This wool is doused in strongly scented perfume. Then the hair rings, or more accurately, scent rings, are worked into women’s plaited coiffure and worn on the head. All three hair rings from southern Morocco are visibly very old, probably passed down from generation to generation, and all three still contain their original fillings of scented wool inside. With some age-related damage (to two of the points), and with an excellent usage patina.
Height: 8 cm and 2 x 6 cm; width: 2 x 4 cm and 1 x 3 cm (box side length). Between the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

2: Egypt, Nubia: a pair of anklets (2 pieces) made of silver, with a round cross-section and polyhedron ends. From upper Egypt or Nubia. Both cast anklets are completely solid, and are correspondingly heavy (almost 1 kg for the pair). The curved parts of the anklets are each divided into 3 sections and – like the angular ends – feature decorative punching and engraving. A very attractive example of this type of jewellery. No damage. Diameter: 8.5 cm x 9.5 cm (outside); 5 cm x 6 cm (inside); c. 2 cm thick. First half of the 20th century.

3: Egypt, Sinai, Negev Desert: a bangle featuring a twisted spiral and thickened ends. A type of silver jewellery traditionally worn by Bedouin women in Egypt, across the peninsula of Sinai up to the Negev Desert in Israel. Cast in solid silver. Thin milled silver wire is inlaid in the twisted curves and around the thickened ends. A piece with only minimal casting defects. Otherwise no damage. Good traces of use (gently rounded edges). Diameter: 7.5 x 6 cm (outside); c. 4.8 x 5 cm (inside); 1.8 cm thick. First half of the 20th century.

4: Sahel zone, Tuareg, Peul, Fulbe, etc.: a solid finger ring cast from the best quality silver and with engraved bands along the outer edges. An object with very good, old usage patina. Diameter: 4 cm x 3.5 cm (outside). Between c. 1900 and the early 20th century.

5: Probably from Morocco: an amber bead affixed to an ornamental pendant with silver sheet metal. The pierced amber bead has a silver rosette in the centre and its pointed conical setting in sheet silver is punched and engraved with leafy tendrils. To the top there is an eyelet made of silver from which the bead can be hung. An ornamental stone was originally set on the front; this is missing. Otherwise this original ornament shows no damage.
Height: 7.3 cm (in total); diameter: 4 cm (the amber bead). First half of the 20th century.

6: Tuareg, southern Algeria, Mali, Niger: a typical Tuareg small leather pouch with several compartments and a sliding mechanism along the carrying straps to open the bag. The outer rectangular sleeve consists of black leather, with the flaps under this being dyed red, yellow, and red again. The front side of all leather pieces have embossed patterns in typical Tuareg style. Below hangs a broad decorative tassel made of narrow red and black leather strips. Small leather pouches such as this one with a sliding mechanism were worn around the necks of Tuareg men. They contained protective amulets (written on paper), money and other small everyday objects. A piece with clearly visible, old usage patina.
Dimensions: 23 cm x 9 cm. First third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance of all nine objects in this mixed lot: Austrian private collection.