Vintage Pashtun Necklace with Long Chains

This is a vintage Pashtun choker necklace with elaborate dangles on a multitude of chains. It is from the 1950s or 60s. It is made of a band of metal elements sewn onto cloth. The band is decorated with red and green and blue glass beads. Some of the glass beads are missing. From the band descend many chains ending with spherical dangles. This would make a stunning statement necklace.

The beautiful pieces of jewelry with colorful glass beads and dangles that jingle is collectively known as Kuchi. They originally came from the nomadic Pashtun tribes that lived in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Waziris are a Pashtun tribe found mainly on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The word Kuchi itself is derived from a Persian word meaning migration and does not describe a particular group but the nomadic lifestyle. 

If you are allergic to nickel, please be aware that Kuchi jewelry often has nickel.

• The length is 38.5 cm (15 1/4").
• Depth is 16 cm (6 1/4").
• Weight is 454 g.

For more Central Asian jewelry, please visit the Central Asian Collection.