Anteeka
Vintage Double Layered Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era
Vintage Double Layered Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era
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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.
![Antique Double Layer Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era - Anteeka](http://anteeka.com/cdn/shop/files/vintage-double-layered-silver-choker-fish-necklace-from-the-ottoman-era-anteeka-1.jpg?v=1719183293&width=1445)
![Antique Double Layer Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era - Anteeka](http://anteeka.com/cdn/shop/files/vintage-double-layered-silver-choker-fish-necklace-from-the-ottoman-era-anteeka-2.jpg?v=1719183294&width=1445)
![Antique Double Layer Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era - Anteeka](http://anteeka.com/cdn/shop/files/vintage-double-layered-silver-choker-fish-necklace-from-the-ottoman-era-anteeka-3.jpg?v=1719183295&width=1445)
![Antique Double Layer Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era - Anteeka](http://anteeka.com/cdn/shop/files/vintage-double-layered-silver-choker-fish-necklace-from-the-ottoman-era-anteeka-4.jpg?v=1719183296&width=1445)
![Antique Double Layer Silver Choker Fish Necklace from the Ottoman Era - Anteeka](http://anteeka.com/cdn/shop/files/vintage-double-layered-silver-choker-fish-necklace-from-the-ottoman-era-anteeka-5.jpg?v=1719183297&width=1445)