Vintage Tuareg Cross (circa 1950s) with Rhodochrosite flat beads.
The Cross of Agadez is the most famous among the emblems of the Tuareg — representing a nomadic enclave of Niger. It is considered to represent the Four Corners of the Earth; a metaphysical and spiritual compass for people who are always on the move.
Tuaregs originally lived across the Sahara desert before their diaspora in North African regions like Niger, Libya, and Algeria. An ancient Tuareg queen was credited to have united all the Tuareg tribes in the 4th Century. In the 5th Century, Greek historian Herodotus wrote about the Tuaregs. In Arabic language, their name suggests “abandoned by God”. They however refer to themselves as “freemen”.
Tuareg crafts consist mainly of metalworking — silver jewelry, using silver melted down from vintage coins, and jewelry making is thought as a distinct profession for men only.
Materials: vintage tuarge amulet, rhodochrosite
