Berber traditional jewels - Morocco
The fibulae
Among the specialties of Moroccan crafts, silver jewelry. The most beautiful creations are found in southern Morocco. Tiznit is the most famous city in the field. The jewels can be modern or traditional, inspired by local Amazigh motifs or contemporary motifs, the pieces can be heavy and imposing or on the contrary, discreet and light, simple or encrusted with precious stones, decorated with black enamel or decorated with motifs colorful, geometric, hermetic ... in any case they are always so delightful and diversified according to the tastes and preferences of each and everyone.
The jewels that represent the specialty of the region are the fibulae or heavy bracelets, which adorned the Amazigh woman and which served not only ceremonial, but also defensive weapons, hence the shapes in diamond points.
The fibula, from the Latin fibula which means "staple", is in principle the equivalent of the safety pins until the Merovingian period.
From Antiquity and the Middle Ages, men used it as a daily accessory, brooch or staple to tie their clothes, but also as an element of adornment. Archaeological excavations have found metal fibulae (bronze, gold, iron) or ivory, some of which are encrusted with precious stones.
Of all the Amazigh jewels, the fibula is the one that offers the most diversity. It consists of a metal plate terminated by a pin at the base of which is a broken ring used to fasten together two pieces of cloth.
Amazigh fibulae usually go in pairs, which are tied together with a chain.
Trilobed, round, triangular, with or without precious stones, engraved, chiselled, full or openwork ... as many fibulae as women!
The North African goldsmith, having first developed in the rural world, mainly used the money. Originally an economic choice, silver has become the hallmark of the Amazigh jewel. A jewel is usually defined as a "small precious object", but the jewel
Amazigh is so different that it does not fit this definition. he
is actually often large and sometimes close to exaggeration.