Bracelet c. 20th century

These silver bracelets were crafted by Ida ou Nadif Amazigh. Look at the way the designs swirl and repeat—it’s a kind of visual rhythm, like the artist was dancing with the metal. The surface has this gorgeous, time-worn texture, a testament to the maker’s hand, I can almost feel the pressure of the tools used. Notice the contrast between the cool silver and the warm red and green stones. There's a particular swirl, a tiny vortex, near one of the stones. It’s as if the energy of the bracelet is concentrated there, a focal point that draws your eye in. These bracelets remind me of the work of Sophie Taeuber-Arp, she used simple forms and materials to create works that are both beautiful and functional. Like Taeuber-Arp, the maker of these bracelets understood that art is not just about aesthetics, it’s about creating objects that have meaning and purpose in our lives.