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I always enjoyed making “treasure necklaces” with interesting bits of things. This one is a long string of tiny “whiteheart” trade beads with a silver wire pendant.
The pendant is composed of a big yellow Venetian glass bead with blue ribbons, from which dangle items originating on different continents. At the top is a rough opal from Australia. In the middle are two more whitehearts and a small round agate from Brazil. On the left are three thin slices of fossil walrus tooth from Alaska. At the bottom hangs a talhakimt amulet pendant from Africa.
Talhakimt are distinctive of the Tuareg and Berber peoples in Niger, Mali and Algeria. Some are manufactured by them, but large numbers of these arrow-shaped ring pendants came from the stone-cutters of India and Germany. Later, Czech glassmakers produced inexpensive copies for the trade.

Talhakimt in stone, silver and glass collected by explorer Francis Rodd in 1922. Pitt Rivers Museum

A beautiful Tuareg woman wears a necklace with talhakimt and other ornaments. Talhakimt are also worn by men. Pitt Rivers Museum, 1920s.
For more on amulets, see this page at the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford.
Oh, so you *made* this necklace with the various single pieces that you had? Lovely.
Thanks! That is my favorite way of beading, to gather some odd bits and pieces that are interesting in themselves, and see how they might work together. It’s something akin to shrining!
It is – and it is a truly personal piece of jewellery, with all those individual beads and ornaments. A great way of actually using the individual pieces one picks up here and there. – I don’t really wear necklaces (much), but I should use some of the individual beads and ornaments that I have and make earrings with them. Or a bracelet.
Earrings and bracelets are both fun and easy to make. Just think of the RA possibilities! Especially with a necklace though, you have wider scope for creativity. My most prized one is my Cúchulainn necklace with an Irish coin and green gemstone beads. Maybe someday I will do a a miniature shrine (locket). Your work is a constant inspiration!
I should really make an effort and turn some of the little keepsakes into jewellery. That way they would actually be seen (by me).
Looking forward to seeing the Cuchulainn necklace one of these days!!!
Here it is: https://linnetmoss.com/2014/04/18/talismans-part-3-cuchulainn-stays-close-to-my-heart/
Oh dear – you can see how short my attention-span is. I obviously must have seen it before. Or someone else commented under my name 😂
Haha! I do that all the time 🙂
I love necklaces and this is another beautiful one!
Thanks Esther 🙂
Love the talhakimt pendant! i have similar Tuareg earrings with red stones shaped like that. Love the combination of pendants and stones from around the world
Thank you. In tribal jewelry one often sees this wonderful bricolage of elements from different times and places. It’s magic!
A total success !
Thank you Sylvie!
It’s beautiful.
Thanks Ellen 🙂