Antique mapuche pendant called Sekil with four plates and embossed decoration.

Description

Pendant "Sekil" with four plates and embossed decoration.
Handmade by a Mapuche silversmith in silver and nickel melting material.
Circa 1990.
Mapuche ethnic.
Sekil worn by Mapuche women to decorate their traditional clothes during rituals or festivities.
The piece is composed of four decorated plates using a single technique, the "technique of embossing". Here, the decorative motifs are created only by the sequence of embossed points getting the images of flowers, a cross and other abstract elements, such as some particular "grains". All these motifs are repetitive into Mapuche jewellery, they are symbols that represent different sacred ideas for Mapuche people. The flower evokes the peace of the countryside of the Mapuche landscape, the cross represents the "southern cross", those starts from the southern sky, and, the particular "grains" mean human fertility. While those discs hanging from the bottom plate swing to the rhythm to Mapuche woman´s walk creating a pleasant sound that invokes the benefactor spirits. The piece is held to the clothing by a Mapuche pin, so there are small holes in the upper edge where little woollen strips are introduced that are tied to the pin.
More details
: Piece in very good condition with a nice natural patina.
This is a superb piece of consistent material, which highlights its
impeccable handmade manufacturing
.
Unique item
Circa. 1990
Measure: 38 x 10 cm (length x width).
Materials: silver and nickel melting material
The piece includes a support to display it (support made of black iron).
NOTE
:
The package will be sent by EMS Courier from Chile associated to FEDEX
Shipping cost indicated is ONLY for the United States and Europe Countries
Consult shipping cost for other countries
Do not hesitate to ask for more pictures