Jewish Moroccan Pair of Silver Bracelets

This pair of ‘C’-form silver bracelets are cast with protective hand, fish and vegetal motifs and engraved with cross-hatching.

Essaouira on Morocco’s coast developed a handicrafts sector in the 19th and 20th centuries that was almost exclusively Jewish, and which ended with the mass departure of the city’s Jewish residents in favour of Israel after its creation. Silver working was a particularly important craft among the community.

The use of fish motifs in the bracelets is not surprising – such motifs in many cultures are seen as symbolising prosperity and fertility. Also, Essaouira has long been home to a significant fishing fleet to this day, and the Jewish quarter or mellah was not far from the fish markets that lined the harbour where the fishing boats were moored.

A similar, single example is illustrated in Draguet (2020, p. 194).

The bracelets are in fine condition and have a good weight.