The Dictionary of North African Jewelry: A Source of Knowledge

As part of our blog dedicated to ancient ethnic jewelry, we are fortunate to have at our disposal a precious work: the dictionary of North African jewelry written by Paul Eudel at the beginning of the 20th century. In 1906, this scholar, who straddled the 19th and 20th centuries, compiled a 250-page dictionary in French, describing in alphabetical order some one hundred pieces of jewelry, most of them accompanied by detailed drawings.

The dictionary is based on the local names of the jewels, sometimes including several regional variations. The idea is to use this treasure trove of knowledge to search for information on a piece of jewelry we think may have originated in North Africa.

At first, without knowing the vernacular name of the jewel, we have to search the dictionary for an illustration resembling the one we wish to identify. The digitized version of the book also allows us to search by keyword, provided we have identified the use of the jewel. This is not always an easy task, as after a century, some jewels may have been altered or lost elements.

What a pleasure it is to use this ancient source, with its delightful illustrations, to delve into the history and diversity of North African jewelry!