Vintage Double Layered Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era
Vintage Double Layered Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era
This is a rare late 19th century, to early 20th-century necklace from the Ottoman era. Known as kirdan or gerdanlik was worn in wide areas from the Caucasus to North Africa across the Ottoman Empire with many variations. I am not entirely sure as to where specifically this is from, but my guess would be North African: Egyptian, Algerian, or Tunisian (chiriya). A similar necklace can be seen in this antique postcard picture from Algeria:
But it could equally be Egyptian. See here an antique picture of a woman wearing a similar necklace that more closely resembles this necklace:
The necklace has three tiers. The first is a snake-shaped element strung on a silver chain. The mid-tier is another repousse element that has more of an elongated shape and is likely to be a stylized fish, a creature associated with happiness and fertility in many cultures. The dangles are simple disc-shaped elements, that stand in for coins.
The whole necklace tests positive for silver on a scratch test and closes with a hook and eye mechanism. It is in good vintage condition.
Length is 41.5 cm (16 1/2"). The drop is 9 cm (3 1/2"). Weight is 57.7 g.