Coins as Adornment in Amazigh Jewelry at Yale University Art Gallery
May 14 @ 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
A gallery talk at the Yale University Art Gallery will explore the cultural and economic significance of Amazigh (Berber) jewelry from Morocco, focusing on the use of coins as adornment. Presented by Georgia LaMacchia, Ph.D. candidate in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations and Graduate Curatorial Intern in the Departments of African Art and Numismatics, the talk highlights a selection of necklaces dating from the late 18th to early 20th century.
These intricate pieces, made from silver coins, coral, amber, and glass beads, served both as personal adornment and as financial and spiritual assets. The necklaces were often handed down through generations, adapted for marital use, or sold in times of economic need. Their design also reflects their role in protecting wearers from harmful forces, demonstrating the deep symbolic and practical value of these objects.
The talk will take place at 12:30 pm on May 14, 2025, at the Yale University Art Gallery, 1111 Chapel Street, New Haven, Connecticut.
For more information, visit artgallery.yale.edu.
