Pair of Antique Nazarlik Camel Neck Decorations


A fabulous pair of related but different antique camel neck decorations incorporating a variety of materials and construction techniques. The belts are made using cowrie shells, hand made glass beads, hand spun and dyed wool using natural dyes, goat hair bindings on the loops, felted wool fabric and plaited pom pom fasteners. The backs are lined with old not original fabric. There is evident wear from tribal use to the wool bindings on the lower, convex edges at the centre of the belts where they would have rubbed against the camels' necks. The blank, plain wool fabric centres are currently a mystery, and show signs of something having been attached, perhaps for displaying some form of jewelled broach or other decoration? Suggestions or an explanation would be most welcome.

Size 90cm x 8cm