Pair of Libyan Engraved Solid Silver Ear Ornaments

This impressive pair of heavy, solid silver ear ornaments or temporals to be worn on each side of the head, suspended from a headdress, is from the Bedouin people, of Libya.

They are made of solid, cast silver. They have been engraved with bird, fish, floral, and geometric motifs. They terminate with what appears to be a loop catch but in fact these are too thick and stiff to close; the closing ‘mechanism’ is decorative only.

The interiors of each have more fish motifs and are stamped deeply with several marks and pseudo-marks including local Tripoli silver assay marks with Arabic but based on French marks which were used in Libya between 1859 and 1926. There is also an an apparent maker’s mark in such a form that suggests the pair was made by a master silversmith accredited to a guild and so was recognised as being a superior craftsman.

A similar pair is illustrated in van Roode (2017, p. 129).

The use of fish and bird motifs indicated a desire for fertility, abundance and prosperity.

The pair here are in excellent condition.