There is only one price level offered on ethnographic and tribal jewelry;
we no longer differentiate between wholesale and retail customers for these items.
African Jewelry:
nomadic Tuareg and Berber earrings,
and pieces from Ethiopia and Kenya
Tuareg tribe tsabit earrings
The nomadic Tuareg are often called 'the blue people' due to their use of indigo cloth which can leave a blue hue on their skin. Known for being fierce warriors and expert desert survivors, this is one tribe you would not want to mess with!
Examples of these can also be found on:
p. 41 in
A World of Earrings,
p. 35 in
Ethnic Jewellery, and
pages 202, 210, and 212-213 in
Africa Adorned,
which shows them being worn by Tuareg women.
Most Tuareg earrings measure in the vicinity of 6 gauge or so (including 7ga and 5ga).
They are very similar to the related Tuareg bracelets with the same knobs, called elkis.
Women's earrings from the nomadic Tuareg tribe of North Africa, called tsabit.
The first pair is $175/pair and weighs approximately
1.12 to 1.14 ounces (31.7 to 32.3grams)/each,
are around ≤5ga, and measure >1-7/8" (48-49mm) from left to right.
The middle pair shown are $225/pair:
1.22 to 1.26 ounces (34.5 to 35.6 grams)/each,
and one piece is around 6ga (between 1-7/8" and 1-15/16" (49mm) from left to right),
while the other piece is around 5ga (≤1-3/4" (44mm) from left to right).
The bottom pair is $225/pair (SOLD):
1.39 to 1.50 ounces (39.2 to 42.7 grams)/each,
are ±5ga, and measure >1-15/16" (50mm) and 2" (51mm) from left to right.
A few versions shown of more typically sized tsabit:
The top pair are a little different from each other and are thus merely $100/pair.
They weigh 0.98 to 1.16 ounces (27.7 to 33.0 grams)/each,
are around 7ga and oval in cross-section at the wearing surface,
and measure 1-15/16" (49mm) and 2" (51mm) from left to right.
The bottom pair still have quite angular knobs and exquisite incised decorations. $300/pair.
These weigh around 1.63 ounces (46.2 grams)/each,
are slightly faceted (the tops are faceted (hexagonal) in cross-section),
and around >6ga but <5ga on the wearing surfaces.
They are just over 2" (51-52mm) from left to right.
The flat spot of the each knob has different engravings.
There is no retail mark-up on this bottom pair;
anyone may order at these prices.
Two small Tuareg tribe tsabit hoop earring pairs. $200/pair.
The left-hand pair weigh around 0.58 ounces (16.5 grams)/each,
are between 7ga and 6ga, have twisted wires,
and are about 1-1/2" to 1-9/16" (38-39mm) from left to right.
The right-hand pair are 0.56 to 0.61 ounces (15.8 to 17.2 grams)/each, are ≥6ga,
are faceted into approximately a pentagonal shape in cross-section at the wearing surface,
and are also about 1-1/2" to 1-9/16" (38-39mm) from left to right.
One is a little bit brassier than the other.
Tuareg tribe traditional women's tsabit earrings, shown in order of weight:
the top left pairs on each of the thumbnails are lightest and the bottom right pairs are heaviest. Please click these thumbnail images to view versions posted at life size.
More affordable than what we've been able to offer them for in the past...
This image shows six pairs of small to medium tsabit. $180/pair.
#AA are ≥7ga and 0.415oz (11.8grams)/each,
#BB are 8ga/7ga and 0.42oz (11.95grams)/each,
#CC are <7ga/7ga 0.442oz (12.5grams)/each,
#DD are 8ga-7ga and 0.447oz (12.7grams)/each,
#EE are ±7ga and 0.465oz (13.2grams)/each,
#FF are ≥8ga/>8ga 0.475oz (13.4grams)/each.
Weights are averaged and may vary from piece to piece within each pair.
This image has nine pairs of medium to large tsabit. $250/pair.
#A are <5ga and 0.83oz (23.7grams)/each,
#B are >6ga and 1.13oz (32grams)/each,
pair #C in the 2nd row, shown by itself, have SOLD,
#D are 6ga and 1.31oz (37.1grams)/each,
#E are ≥6ga/>5ga and 1.41oz (39.8grams)/each,
#F are ≤4ga and 1.53oz (43.3grams)/each,
#G are ≤4ga and 1.54oz (43.6grams)/each,
#H are ≥4ga/≤3ga and 1.71oz (48.5grams/each),
and pair #I has SOLD.
Weights are averaged and may vary from piece to piece within each pair.
Old Tuareg earrings
with engraving and likely ebony inlay.
<12ga. $160/pair.
More tribal hoop earrings
Base metal earrings, like less refined Tuareg tribe tsabit, but also similar to Egyptian designs and other similar North African hoops - perhaps Saharwi (Saharoui).
Because they aren't silver, these earrings are more affordable. $80-$100/pair.
Click on these thumbnail-sized images to view ones posted at life size.
In this first image:
Top #A ≤5ga ($90 - 1.41oz./39.8g, and measure >1-3/4" (45mm) from left to right),
Middle #B (SOLD),
Bottom #C 3ga and >3ga ($80/pair - 2.23oz./63.3g, and measure >1-15/16" (49-50mm) from left to right)
In this middle image:
Top #D (SOLD),
Middle #E >4ga ($80 - 2.41oz./68.3g, and measure 2-1/8" and 2-1/4" (54-57mm) from left to right),
Bottom #F >6ga ($100/pair - 1.84oz./52.2g; the wearing surface is square-ish in cross-section, and measure 2-3/16" and 2-5/16" (56-58mm) from left to right)
In this last image:
Top #G >6ga ($100 - 1.96oz./55.5g/pair, 2-3/8" (60mm) from left to right),
Middle #H >6ga ($100 - 1.96oz./55.6g/pair, 2-5/16" (58mm) from left to right),
Bottom #I ≤6ga ($100/pair - 1.64oz./46.5g/pair, <2-5/16" (58mm) from left to right)
Rare tribal silver Ethiopian or Yemeni earrings
This is the first time we have encountered pieces like this! $100/pair.
Several different side and front views shown for these two pairs.
These measure around 6ga maximum on their coiled wire wearing surfaces.
(The original collector later informed us that these lovelies might actually be from Yemen...
considering their proximity and cross-cultural influences, this is not all that surprising.)
For documentation, please refer to:
page 57 in
A World of Earrings;
an image of them being worn appears on p. 139 of
African Ark.
The wood backgrounds indicate photos rather than scans, which are not posted at life size.
The left-hand pair has SOLD (also shown in photo second from bottom).
Ethiopian women's giant clay lip plates
Six plain dark clay Ethiopian Mursi tribe women's giant lip plates.
These run $195-$225/each (less than our retail prices had been!).
The Mursi tribe words for clay lip plate are dhebi a tugoin (wooden lip plates are called burgui).
Please click on these thumbnails to view images posted at life size of each side and the flares.
Measurements for the flares (outside diameter), and notes about the characteristics of each piece are:
Top left: <2-3/4" to 2-7/8"
(this piece has some shiny-ness and is my favorite out of the bunch)
Top right: (SOLD)
Middle left: 3-1/4" to 3-1/2"
(grassy surface, a little convex)
Middle right: (SOLD)
Bottom left: (SOLD)
Bottom right: 3-1/2" to 3-5/8"
(a little convex in the center, smooth, minor chips and very thin but long hard-to-notice central crack)
Maasai women's beaded collar necklace with leather (not plastic) spacers. $100.
Please click on this thumbnail to view a larger photo (not posted at life size).
Please note that prices for necklaces remain at wholesale levels for everyone!
African beaded necklace
Beaded African necklace ($45).
I do not know the exact origins, but my best guess would be South African -
perhaps Zulu or Ndebele tribe based on the white color and style similar to their traditional rope necklaces.
It does not have a clasp nor opening, and is made for someone with a smaller head (perhaps for a child?).
Please note that prices for necklaces remain at wholesale levels for everyone!
Beaded Maasai women's upper ear jewelry
Newer Maasai women's upper ear jewelry.
Collected about two decades ago. These are $60/pair.
We have several different combinations of colors of beadwork with primarily red, orange, or blue beads.
Several examples Maasai jewelry can be found in the seminal work
Maasai,
as well as
Africa Adorned (especially on p. 26-29);
examples of beaded leather earflaps are also shown on p.54 of
A World of Earrings.
African bracelets
Maasai beaded bracelets. $40/pair.
Please note that prices for bracelets remain at wholesale levels for everyone!
Old red glass African bracelets
with engraved X and line decorations.
Although found in Africa, I recently learned these may have originally been made in India for use in Yemen.
Note since this is an old vintage piece, it does show its age, with tiny chips out of the side of the glass, dull, not shiny appearance to the surfaces, scratches, dings, etc.
aka worn and loved with TONS of character!
One from the top image has SOLD; the remaining piece is shown twice by itself (not posted at life size).
It measures between 2-1/2" to 2-9/16" in internal diameter.
Rare! $20/each.
Please note that prices for bracelets remain at wholesale levels for everyone!
Click the thumbnails below
to view our selection of ethnic jewelry from various parts of the world.
There is only one price level offered on ethnographic and tribal jewelry;
we no longer differentiate between wholesale and retail customers for these items.
