1: Known as ‘Khalakahl’, the beautiful, magnificent ankle bracelet, is made of solid, heavy silver. Such ‘Khalakahl’ bracelets were previously reserved for the noble Moor women in Mauritania. Today it is available to all women and is worn all the way to Southern Morocco. The whole of the ankle bracelet is cast in the highest quality silver and finely engraved.
The engraving motifs on the rectangular decorative plate display protective symbols: the circle and dot guards against the ‘evil eye’, other symbols protect the woman’s feet from snakebites, scorpions and thorns. The central ornamental platter is additionally embellished with 18 silver beads and red and black enamel inlays. Four silver braces on both sides lead from the central platter to two engraved side plates which then end in two big silver spheres.
2: Three finger rings from Morocco, made of silver and silver-alloy: One of the rings functions as a protective amulet bearing a ‘magic quadrant’ as its decorative plate. This ‘magic square’ is divided into 16 spaces whereby writing and number combinations are engraved in the smaller spaces (aimed at having a protective function for the bearer). The ring is made of silver alloy. Dimensions: 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm. (‘the magic square’). Another ring presents a square decorative plate bearing a central sphere. Both the plate and the sphere are segmented and decorated with green and yellow enamel (cell-melted enamel). The green and yellow colours are an indication that this ring comes from the jewelers’ city of Tiznit. The ring is made of good quality, pure silver. The third ring of this mixed lot is a Tuareg variety (from Southern Morocco to Central Sahara). It is made of silver-alloy cast with diagonal grooves and a central tip. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Lit.: ‘Afrika im Schmuck’ by Angela Fisher, p. 224/225, ill. 10. Provenance:
Viennese Private Collection.