Swahili Coast Silver & Gold Crescent Necklace

This silver necklace with a crescent-shaped pendant inset with an embossed gold plaque is almost certainly a rare example of gold and silver jewellery from the Swahili coast. The crescent form suggests obvious Islamic influence (the Coast had close trade and migration ties with the Middle East and most particularly with Oman), as well as the west coast of India. The use of embossed gold plaques is highly typical of silverwork from the area. Certainly, jewellery inset with embossed gold plaques was worn by Swahili women among the Swahili Coast – Lamu, Pate and probably Zanzibar islands.

The pendant is further decorated with applied silver work, 18 pendant double loops each attached to a 2 paisa Indian coin with dates ranging from 1957 to 1963, as well as two pyramidal finials.

The coins might be contemporary with the piece or are later ‘upgrades’. In any event the use of Indian coins is important because it emphasises the trade links between the Swahili Coast and India’s Gujarat.

The pendant is suspended from a heavy, double silver chain.

Silver such as the item here was made by silversmiths on Pate Island, just north of Lamu Island, on the coast of Kenya and more broadly on what is known as the Swahili coast.

A crescent shaped pendant on a chain which is described as a ‘typical example of Swahili jewellery’ is illustrated in de Vere Allen (1971, p. 21).

The people of the Swahili coast have been engaged with lively international trade since at least the 15th century. Trade took place with the African interior and with merchants from the middle east and India, particularly Gujarat.

Three past items of more courtly silver and goldware that we have had from the Swahili Coast can be seen here,  here  and here.

The pendant and chain here is in a fine, stable and wearable condition.