{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O79357"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O79357/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT3412/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT3412/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT3412","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O79357/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O79357","accessionNumber":"M.132-1916","objectType":"Bangle","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The traditional jewellery of the Berber tribes of North Africa is almost always made of silver in heavy, clearly-defined shapes.  Although individual pieces rarely date back any earlier than the 19th century, the designs are very old, and European observers liked to find traces of Roman or Phoenician influence.\r\n\r\nThis distinctive bracelet (the word <i>suar</i> simply means bracelet in Arabic) formed part of the traditional costume of the Ouled Naїl.  The young women of this tribe traditionally earnt their dowries as ‘dancers’ in the cities, and this colourful practice fascinated Victorian travellers.  Many 19th-century photos and pictures of Algerian women are of the Ouled Naїl, who may have been the only women whom European men could meet freely.  The whole ensemble of Ouled Naїl jewellery was richer than for most other tribes, but the bracelet was the most important element, and the only piece that was unique to that costume.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Wide penannular silver bracelet with heavy rims and projecting rods.  The outside is covered with a cast geometric pattern divided into three rectangular fields.  In the centre of the bracelet there is a group of four square section rods sticking out at right angles, and attached to the back plate by studs.  At each end there is a matching group of three rods, and these are divided on each side from the central group by a vertical strip of two rods with a hemispherical stud between them (one of the rods is missing).  ","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2008BT3412"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"002","id":"THES375437"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Bangle","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Biskra","id":"x41491"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1850-1899","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1899-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by J. B. Clarke-Thornhill","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"7.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"A note accompanying this bracelet states: \"Bought from an Ouled Naїl girl in a brothel at Bou Saada.  Made at Biskra, Algeria.  These ladies are often attacked and sometimes murdered for the sake of their ornaments and the spikes are meant for self-defence if necessary to shove into their assailants' eyes.  Her '<i>amant de coeur</i>' was there, and very anxious that she should sell it, though she was rather unwilling - I noticed that he took the money.\"\r\n\r\nThe label inside it is slightly different: \"Ouled Naїl bracelet, made at Biskra; bought off a dancing girl at Bou Saada.\"","briefDescription":"Wide silver penannular bracelet (Suar) with projecting rectangular studs, Biskra (Algeria), 1850-1899.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"For an illustration of a painting by Etienne Dinet of an Ouled Nail 'danseuse' wearing a pair of these bracelets, see:\r\nTamzali, Wassyla, 'Abzim. Parures et Bijoux des Femmes d'Algérie', Algiers, 1984, pp. 44-5.\r\n"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.132-1916"],"accessionNumberNum":"132","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1916,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-04-02","availableToBook":true}}