10 - 2 Women's Ankle Bracelets, "khal-khal"

2 Women's Ankle Bracelets, "khal-khal" Moors. Mauritania Without base White metal. Ø 10 and 11.5 cm. Provenance: - Otto (1918–2003) and Heinz Jappert, Basel. - Hammer Auctions, Basel, December 2, 2017, Lot 1. - Claudine and Christoph Eichele (1952–2020 & 1949–2026), Brotte-lès-Luxeuil. - Eichele Community of Heirs. Throughout history, jewelry in a wide variety of forms and materials has accompanied and fascinated people of all cultures. From a cultural perspective, bracelets, anklets, amulets, rings, and necklaces are far more than mere pieces of jewelry. In much of Africa, these masterfully crafted treasures are valued for their beauty, yet these precious ornaments are above all an expression of religious beliefs and symbolize the wearer’s affiliation, status, and faith. In addition, healers prescribe the wearing of protective jewelry to aid in recovery or to ward off misfortune. These treasures were therefore also worn as magical, protective, and empowering objects. In addition to local materials such as gold, silver, copper, iron, stone, ivory, shell, and resin, popular imported goods such as glass, coral, and cowrie shells were also frequently used to craft these valuable, one-of-a-kind pieces. Indian stone beads, for example, found their way to Africa early on via Near Eastern trade routes. Later, during Murano’s heyday from the 16th to the 19th century, glass beads of Italian origin were particularly popular. The use of imported Manilla coins made of copper alloys as a medium of exchange can be traced back in Africa at least to the 16th century, when Portuguese trading posts were established in West Africa. Over time, these imported goods were repeatedly melted down and cast into new shapes or forged. In the process, other materials, such as iron, were increasingly used in a similar manner. In regions influenced by Islam, silver was traditionally preferred over gold in jewelry making. The shiny white precious metal was believed to embody purity and to have the ability to bring its owner good fortune and prosperity. Due to the value of the raw materials used, jewelry served not only as an investment but also as a medium of exchange and a means of payment. These pre-coin forms of payment (so-called “primitive money”), which took standardized forms, were traded over long distances. At the beginning of the 20th century, most colonial powers banned these forms of money in order to impose their own currencies. Further reading: Borel, France (1999). Jewelry. Treasures from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas. From the Ghysels Collection. Ostfildern-Ruit: Hatje Cantz. -------------------------------- Claudine Eichele (1952–2020) and Christophe Eichele (1949–2026) As the daughter of René and Denise David, the founders of Galerie Walu in Basel, Claudine Eichele was familiar with non-European art from an early age. From 1970 to 1990, she worked full-time at the gallery and undertook several trips to Africa in the 1980s. She subsequently remained associated with the gallery on and off and on a part-time basis. Christophe Eichele worked as an independent entrepreneur and marketing specialist. In addition, he was involved for many years in fundraising and marketing for the Swiss aid organization Brücke · Le pont. The couple spent their retirement in Brotte, France, where the collection they had built together also found its home. CHF 50 / 100 Weight in grams: 360 Condition: Hammer Auctions places great importance on providing a careful and as precise as possible description of all lots offered in the catalog. Each lot is documented with multiple photographs intended to provide as comprehensive an impression as possible of its condition. This includes, in particular, visible signs of wear, irregularities, and age-related changes. We recommend that all interested parties and bidders carefully examine the photographs before submitting a bid, as they form an essential part of the lot description. In addition, we recommend viewing the items in person before the auction, if possible. All condition descriptions are provided to the best of our knowledge and belief and are based on our professional assessment. They are provided for informational purposes only and do not claim to be exhaustive. In particular, there may be age- or use-related characteristics that are neither explicitly mentioned nor visible in the photographs. Hammer Auctions assumes no liability for unintentional errors or omissions in the condition descriptions to the extent permitted by law. However, we always strive to resolve any ambiguities or concerns in a transparent, fair, and straightforward manner. Should a lot differ in material respects from its catalog description,