This is a really cool leather, brass, copper and "ebony" Tuareg-made pendant, known as a
Tcherot. The pendant features traditional Tuareg decorations and Tcherots
often contain Koranic verses or magical inscriptions
that
serve to protect the Tuareg from the malevolent power of the desert.
The pendant is strung in the traditional Tuareg fashion, with a
multi-strand cotton cord, leather "beads" across the top, and tassels hanging
down each side. It would be easy to cut the cord and use the pendant in
your own creations, or wear it as is. This Tcherot measures
approximately 3 inches wide by 4 inches high. The cord measures approximately 30
inches.
The design is traditional Tuareg, although it is difficult to determine the age of the piece -- but this is likely newly made. The design includes the traditional Tuareg design that points to the four corners of the earth. The center black circle (which we believe is actually enamel rather than ebony) symbolizes the "good eye",
which is a traditional means of warding off the evil eye. To counteract
the "evil eye", the Tuareg call upon the power of the "good eye."
