AN ALGERIAN MEDITERRANEAN RED CORAL AND ENAMEL 'AZRAR' NECKLACE
Kabylia, Algeria, late 19th - 20th century

With a white metal interwoven link chain braced with a white string, enhanced with polychrome-enamelled hanging pendants in rich blue, yellow, and green pigments, set with Mediterranean red corals in twenty-nine of the thirty-one total white metal pendants, the edging with twisted-rope, braided bands and stippled bubble details, the full necklace width when open 45cm, neck width 13cm.

Mediterranean red coral is among the most favored gemstones worn by North African coastal tribes, the most notable of whom originate from the Kabaylia region of Algeria.