Berber Headband – Silver, Niello Decorations – South Morocco

Mid 20th century. Silver (niello decorations), red glass, buttons on cotton band; gr 70,2 (10.44 oz.). The piece is cm. 90,0 in lenght (35.43″); the decorated part is cm. 18,0 in lenght (7.08″).

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.