{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O79619"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O79619/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT3369/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BT3369/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BT3369","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O79619/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O79619","accessionNumber":"342-1904","objectType":"Ring brooch","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\nThe use of ring brooches to fasten women’s traditional clothing is universal across the region and dates back to late Roman times.  Most of these brooches are penannular in shape, with all the decoration lavished on the head of the pin, but true ring brooches, like this example, survived in a few places, mainly in Algeria, up to the end of the 19th century.  \r\n\r\nCircular ring brooches were used singly, in the centre of the forehead or on the chest, unlike the penannular brooches, which were always worn in pairs to hold the dress together.  The word <i>medouar</i> means ‘round’ in Arabic.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Flat silver ring brooch shaped like a star with eight tabs of irregular size round its edge.  It is decorated on the front with simple engraved patterns.  The tang is made from plain silver wire hooked into a hole at the side of the central space.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Engraved sheet silver","categories":[{"text":"Jewellery","id":"THES48930"},{"text":"Africa","id":"THES49019"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MES","id":"THES48607"},"images":["2008BT3369"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CB006","id":"THES369161"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"fibula","id":"AAT209303"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"algeria","id":"x30025"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1850-1900","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Edmond Dresden","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"4.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"(at widest point)","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Accessions register entry: 'Brooch of silver, chased. / a plate roughly cut into the form of a star with eight blunt projections, chased with line ornament. The pin crosses the central opening. / North African (?) / Diam. 1 7/8 in.'","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sheet silver ring brooch (Medouar) shaped like a star, Algeria, 1850-1900.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"For examples, see Eudel, Paul, 'Dictionnaire des bijoux de l'Afrique du Nord: Maroc, Algérie, Tunisie, Tripolitaine', Paris, 1906, p.133."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["342-1904"],"accessionNumberNum":"342","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1904,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-17","recordCreationDate":"2003-04-08","availableToBook":true}}