Skip to Content
Closed today, next open Thursday. Closed today, next open Thursday.

Qur'an Box Pendant

A work made of brass with silver overlay.

Image actions

  • A work made of brass with silver overlay.

Date:

Early 20th century

Artist:

Ida ou Nadif
Anti-Atlas Mountains region, Morocco
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

The Ida Ou Nadif and other Imazighen peoples have developed highly distinctive jewelry styles. These bracelets, earrings, and headband are embellished with patterns in a black metal alloy mixture called niello. The box was designed to hold a copy of the Qu’ran and hang from a chain around a devotee’s neck. Across northern Africa exquisite silver jewelry defines a woman’s wealth and comprises an important part of the wedding gift that a man gives to his fiancée.

Status

On View, Gallery 137

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Ida Ou Nadif

Title

Qur'an Box Pendant

Place

Morocco (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1900–1950

Medium

Brass with silver overlay

Dimensions

8.9 × 8.9 × 1.6 cm (3 1/2 × 3 1/2 × 3 in.)

Credit Line

Edward E. Ayer Endowment in memory of Charles L. Hutchinson

Reference Number

2002.275

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Learn more

Image actions

Share