Antique Silver Enameled Powder Kohl Container Box from Kabylie, Algeria
$450.00
Antique Berber Kabyle box container to hold loose powder kohl eye liner. Made of silver wash with filigree enamel in pagoda shape. Enamel and rhinestone made of silver tone metal with filigree scales and applied enamel in red, green, orange and cobalt blue with cabochon of orange and silver beads. Silver and enamel. A beautiful antique example of a traditional box handcrafted by Berber Women in Kabylie, Algeria. Enamel and rhinestone made of silver tone metal with filigree scales and applied enamel in red, green, orange and cobalt blue with cabochon of orange and silver beads. The circular container is richly decorated with cloisonné enameling and detailed silver work. It is adorned with raised filigree, each decorated with the same blue, yellow and green enamel. Decorated with stones cabochons. An amazing collector’s piece due to its rarity and the beauty of its intricate workmanship. Collector collyrium kohl pot eyeliner powder box in very good condition for its age. A rare piece, really old and very typical of jewelry from this region. In very good condition Origin: Algeria (Haute Kabylie), circa 1920s Material: Silver, enamel Dimensions: 3" height x 1.5" diameter. Kohl (Arabic: kul) or kajal or kajol is an ancient eye cosmetic, traditionally made by grinding stibnite for similar purposes to charcoal used in mascara. It is widely used in the Middle East and North Africa, the Mediterranean, South Asia, and Africa as eyeliner to contour and/or darken the eyelids and as mascara for the eyelashes. It is worn mostly by women, but also by some men and children. Kohl has also been used in India as a cosmetic for a long time. In addition, mothers would apply kohl to their infants' eyes soon after birth. Some did this to "strengthen the child's eyes", and others believed it could prevent the child from being cursed by the evil eye.
