Berber Pendant - Moroccan Pendant - Square Niello Tribal Pendant

Large rectangular pendant with design incorporating etching, niello work and small punched “bumps” in a geometric design. These interesting pendants are most often found on Berber necklaces, but can be used for any adornment purpose you like, including dance costuming and accessories. From the Souss area of southern Morocco. Niello is a black mixture, usually of sulphur, copper, silver, and lead, traditionally used as an inlay on engraved or etched metal. Today most “niello” work is painted or enamel and not the traditional form of inlay.

Berber jewelry is large, showy, colorful and FUN!  It often includes lots of detail like enamel in bright colors, large jewels and coins.  It represents much more than simply adornment.  Each piece can signify fertility, wealth, social status and marital status.  The Berbers or Imazighen (‘Free people’; plural of Amazigh) are the original inhabitants of North Africa. They are an ethnic group of several nations indigenous mostly to North Africa and in some northern parts of Western Africa -  Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, northern Mali, northern Niger, and a small part of western Egypt. They speak a number of related languages and share a common cultural heritage. Most Berbers now live in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania and Niger.

Item No. JPM0176
Length: 3.25 inches
Width: About 2.25 inches
Embellishments:  Niello design, a bit of etching and raised punches.
Materials: Mixed metals
Metal Color: Slightly brassy
Finish: Unpolished
Attachment:  Rolled bale at the top
Country of Origin: Morocco
Condition: This piece is used but is not extremely old.

Please check photos carefully for condition. You will receive the exact piece(s) shown in the photos on this page. This is a USED piece that has been previously worn in country. As a previously used tribal item it may have small flaws such as loose or missing jewels, missing bells, obvious repairs, may be tarnished or worn, or have other small flaws.

A NOTE ON THE CONDITION OF TRIBAL ITEMS: Our jewelry is used tribal jewelry, from faraway lands. As used pieces the condition of our items will reflect their prior lives as treasured tribal pieces. Please know that we strive to maintain the tribal allure of our items and therefore we do not clean or repair these pieces in any way. We leave that choice to the buyer, as each may prefer something different. This not only maintains the old, tribal look of each piece that our belly dance customers seek, but also preserves the value of a piece that cleaning might diminish.

We do our best to describe any flaws that may be present in our items, and we encourage you to read the full description and look at all photos closely to judge the condition of the item for yourself and know exactly what you are ordering. If you have questions about the condition of any item, please ask!