Silver clothes pin with chain

Unknown artist

Dressing pin (fibula) in the form of a triangle. The clothes pin is part of a pair of clothes pins connected by a link chain. Such pins are used by Berber women to tie shawls (tamelhaft, Berber). The garment is held at shoulder height with both pins by piercing the pin into the fabric the omega shaped ring is turned so that it sits between the pin and the fabric securing the pin. The chain hangs below the chest, at abdominal level. These clothes pins are part of women's breast jewellery and are almost always worn together with other jewellery such as necklaces, rings, bracelets etc. (see photo in: Camps-farber 1990: 54). Fibulae with a triangular shape or 'ram's head' refer to an ancient cult in North Africa, namely the cult of the ram (Izemer, berb.) symbolising the god Amon whose temple used to be in the Siwa oasis (Egypt). He symbolised physical strength, reproduction and dynamic life (Haddadou 1993: 172). In addition to jewellery, the triangular motif is found in the wooden columns and capitals of houses and dwellings, such as kasbahs and storehouses in the Atlas Mountains. (Flint 1973: 11). The fibula is by far the most common piece of Berber jewellery. It is found almost everywhere in North Africa from Morocco to Egypt (Siwa).This triangular silver dress pin from Ayt Yanni (Kabylia) is moulded and decorated with enamel cloisonné of various colours (including yellow, brown and red) and stones. The silver balls at the end are soldered. The pair of pins is connected with a chain.