
Coming from the Tuareg people of Agadez, Niger, this fine silver jewelry is shaped and engraved by hand. Once the shapes are hammered out on an anvil, a delicate process of hand engraving occurs. Using sharp, chisel-like tools, the surface is carved with glimmering designs.
This collection of Tuareg jewelry comes from Moussa Albaka, whose family has been silversmithing for more generations than he can count. Mousa has won a coveted UNESCO Seal of Excellence Award for jewelry. The jewelry incorporates ebony wood, semi-precious stones and sometimes glass.


photos and stories courtesy of Baskets of Africa