The National Foundation of Museums of the Kingdom of Morocco and the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) has organised the Berber Jewellery Collection from the Royal Palace exhibition. Part of The Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture initiative, the show presents 200 historical and culturally significant objects from Oudayas, the National Museum of Adornment in Rabat. These are on view outside of Morocco for the first time. Held at MIA, the exhibition will remain open until the 20th of May, 2024.
The Royal Palace Collection presents the artistry of different regions and ethnic groups of Morocco: from the Atlas Mountains to the southern provinces. So the show invites everyone to explore the distinctive characteristics of the county’s main jewellery production hubs, providing a glimpse into its cultural heritage. It celebrates the skilled artisans who meticulously crafted the displayed treasures and pays homage to the women who have preserved these traditions. They handed their jewellery on from generation to generation as a visual element of their ethnic identity.
The artefacts on display demonstrate a plethora of techniques (from intricate wirework to exquisite inlaying), styles, and materials. Traditional Berber jewellery is usually made of silver. Depending on the region and jewellery type, it could incorporate coins, corals, enamel, amber or coloured glass beads, and sometimes semi-precious stones. The motifs of the exhibited pieces, such as geometric patterns (triangles) and stylised representations of nature (plants, animals, solar discs, and crescents), reflect the nomadic lifestyle of the Berbers, underscoring their profound connection to the natural world. Another popular form of Berber jewellery is khmissa which represents the five fingers of the hand and is believed to ward off the Evil Eye.
To get more information about the Berber Jewellery Collection from the Royal Palace exhibition, please visit its official web page.
You might also be interested in attending Fashioning an Empire: Textiles from Safavid Iran and looking at MIA’s Damascus Room.
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