Silver and coral bridal necklace from Morocco

This necklace is part of the bridal parure worn by Jewish communities in Morocco during wedding ceremonies, in both rural Berber settings and urban ones. The bridal parure, often considerable in value, played a social and protective role as much as an ornamental one. Moroccan craftsmanship combines silver (sometimes nielloed), red coral, polychrome cloisonné enamel, and beads, in compositions in which Jewish goldsmiths were particularly renowned and often the near-exclusive custodians of the trade. These jewels, passed down and displayed during wedding rites, bear witness to the skill of Jewish artisans and to the aesthetic of Maghrebi feminine adornment.