Old Pair Berber Fibulae – TIZERZAI with LOUHA – Draa Valley, Morocco

Early to mid 20th century. Tribal metal. The piece is cm. 67,0 long (26,38″). Gr. 148,6 (5.24 oz).

The rectangular Hand of Fatima as a knob in the center representing the eye as protection against bad luck. The Louha is cm 12,2 x cm. 6,9 (4.80″ x 2.72″).

Essential feminine embellishment, the tizerzai are taken in pairs to close the coat.

For more information and similar examples: “Tiserai – The Fibule Au Maroc”, by Ileana Marchesani, Franco D’Alessandro and Meriem Otmani – Edition Sicopa.

Berbers are the indigenous ethnic group of North Africa. They are continuously distributed from the Atlantic to the Siwa oasis in Egypt, and from the Mediterranean to the Niger River.The name Berber appeared for the first time after the end of the Roman Empire.

Many Berbers call themselves some variant of the word imazighen (singular: Amazigh), possibly meaning “free people” or “free and noble men”. Today, most Berber-speaking people live in Morocco and Algeria.

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