Vintage Tuareg Jewelry - Manilla Ankle Slave Bracelet - Handmade Sahara Desert

Description

T
his manilla was sourced in the southern Morocco town of Zagora, Morocco, but likely originates from Tuareg tribes lower in Africa who travelled north across the Sahara desert. The etching is still very clear; most manilla found today have had the etched rubbed away by the sands of time. A silver/copper mix that is more silver in appearance than in the photos.
Weighs 416.7g
Tribe: Tuareg
Materials: Silver mix
These manilla are of Tuareg origin. Very scarce, these anklets are solid and very heavy. Created using a sand mold, these are typically made of a copper or bronze and silver melange. A distinctive shape with four flat facets, each design is attributed to a unique Tuareg tribe. These particular symbols represent the watering of the crops, symbols which can also be seen in traditional indigenous Moroccan amazigh tattoos.
Our Tuareg jewelry is sourced directly from Tuareg tribal families in Mali and Algeria. The jewelry is made by both men and women of the tribe, and commonly uses materials at hand, including recycled camel bone, gazelle and goat horn, and silver from the earth. Designs are hand-hammered, with timeless symbols and motifs carefully tapped out.
Handmade Tuareg bracelet; please allow for minor imperfections. Please inquire with any questions or for more pictures.
More Information
A piece of African history, Manilla anklets/armlets, often called "slave bracelets", originated as a form of money. Appearing before the colonial period, manillas were often worn to display wealth and were used in trade. While not commonly used today, with most being melted down due to their association with the slave trade, manillas are sometimes still included in a marriage dowry.
Traditionally nomadic, the Tuareg are an indigenous tribe native to the Sahara Desert. Often called the "Blue Men of the Desert", Tuareg are renowned for their blue skin, which comes from years of wearing their signature indigo-dyed
. The indigo protects their skin from the harsh desert sun and wind.
The Tuareg originate from Mali, Algeria, Libya and some fringe areas, but after travelling the Sahara Desert, a small group settled in the southern Moroccan Zagora province (including Mohamed's home town of Amazraou). Silver Sahara sources all our Tuareg items directly from Tuareg traders and descendants of the original settlers, ensuring that fair prices are paid to benefit the entire tribe.