Thread: What is this, and where can I get it?

I went on a vintage bellydance video-watching binge, and I noticed that a lot of the classic Egyptian dancers have this multi-crescent charm hanging off their costumes, either necklaces, or usually, in the drape in front of their stomach.

As someone working on a vintage-bellydance inspired costume, is there a meaning behind this particular accoutrement, and where could I find them for purchase?

Taheya Carioca belly dance (Mandil el Helou) - YouTube

Here it's one each of her costumes - twice on the black one and once over the stomach on teh white one. I've seen it Samia Gamal's costumes too, and I'm sure, elsewhere.

So can anyone enlighten me as to what it is? Much thanks!

I don't know much about them, except that I see them worn with beledi dresses for folklore numbers. But I know it's called a dowry necklace and you can get one from Dahlal:

https://www.dahlal.com/default.aspx?n=1&hs=dowry

or from Scheherezade Imports
Dowry Crescent Necklace


And there's a thread discussing them here: Dowry necklace?

They are often called dowry necklaces, and lots of Egyptian oriented belly dance vendors sell them. I love them, too!

Here is one place you can order them: Dowry Crescent Necklace

Yes, those are dowry necklaces ( as in dowry for the bride)

I have one vintage one and a newer reproduction, and made a vintage-looking costume with a dowry necklace hanging from the bra Golden Age style. I also own three folkloric costumes with the same multiple -crescent dowry design embroidered on them, In this raks al shamadan video, at about 48 seconds you can see a clear view of the same design in silver sequins on the net over my torso, and it's also in a smaller version on the same dress, on the sleeves and on the bottom of the skirt, in front

Here's a picture w/ the dowry necklace I attached to my vintage-look costume. I also picked out the stones and replaced them w/ Swarovsky crystals : )

And here is a pic of Golden Age Egyptian star Tahiya Carioca, with the dowry necklace on her hip

Some people also call them "kirdans" - but kirdan is just the arabic word for "necklace."

I also like to hang mine from my bras on certain bra and belt sets - I did this with 2 American Icons, which I have since sold on the swap meet. They are very easy to detach from the strap. (The reproductions are also fairly flimsy.)

Mervat Radwan (polymer clay & jewelry artist) makes some very interesting nontraditional necklaces in this crescent theme.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSETmLbcI-...0/IMG_0244.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6214934_n.jpg

I always wondered what the history was with those. where would one find a silver one?

Originally Posted by MahiraRaqs

I always wondered what the history was with those. where would one find a silver one?

I wonder about the history too. It's one of those items that seems to exist primarily within the bellydance world, too. Googling just brings up bellydance sites. And information within the community is often sort of myopic and incestual -- a hundred people confirming a story doesn't mean it's true, only that they all read the same article. LOL

anyway, here's an interesting take on it in silver from BDSS Egyptian Silver Dowry Crescent Necklace [NKL-312]

Originally Posted by Lauren_

I wonder about the history too. It's one of those items that seems to exist primarily within the bellydance world, too. Googling just brings up bellydance sites. And information within the community is often sort of myopic and incestual -- a hundred people confirming a story doesn't mean it's true, only that they all read the same article. LOL

anyway, here's an interesting take on it in silver from BDSS Egyptian Silver Dowry Crescent Necklace [NKL-312]

Yes! Thanks Lauren.

Cassandra talked about them at a workshop in Calgary on Ghawazi 2 years ago. I don't remember the details with enough confidence to share them here. I'd ask her directly or even better, Denise Enan is sure to know! Denise Enan OASIS - Bellydance, Raks Sharki, Egyptian fokloric, Baladi, danse orientale, folklore égyptienne - Studio Oasis - tours, trips voyages Egypt Égypte
Denise is very sweet, generous and a walking encyclopedia of everything Egyptian Dance . . . and she's coming to Calgary May 4-6!

Thanks for al the info! I'm really excited about finding the right one for the costume I'm making!

Sometimes you can find earrings made like that. I got a couple of pairs at a BDSS show.

The description with the Dahlal one says it is 9" long which would be large enough for a belly drape. Not sure about the others. Are there any places you've seen to buy just the pendant part unattached to the necklace?

Originally Posted by Tourbeau

Mervat Radwan (polymer clay & jewelry artist) makes some very interesting nontraditional necklaces in this crescent theme.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oSETmLbcI-...0/IMG_0244.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6214934_n.jpg

Oh, those are quite fabulous! Hmmm......

Darbla, the newer ones are really easy to detach from the necklace portion.

Here is an interesting bit of cross pollination. The Navajo necklace called a squash blossom is taken from Arabic themes (as are the elaborate woven rugs). After the Spanish invaded the Southwest, the Native Americans took many themes (or were "encouraged" to take) from existing Arabic motifs. The crescent on the necklace is called a Naja and the squash blossoms are actually pomegranate flowers.


"The inverted crescent pendant on squash-blossom necklaces, called the 'Naja' by the Navajo, is found in various design forms throughout the world cultures. As a crescent, this form goes back as far as the Paleolithic period. It is mentioned in the book of Judges as an ornament worn around the necks of camels. In the Phoenician culture, Astarte was the goddess of fertility and she was represented by the inverted crescent as well. As pendants, the inverted crescent has also been found in ancient Roman, and Crete artifacts.
During the Middle Ages, the Moors rode out of the East and conquered lands in a westerly direction including eight centuries of occupation in Spain. They adopted the symbol as a bridal ornament, and thought the inverted crescent would protect both themselves and their horses from 'the evil eye'. When the Spaniards came to South and Central America, they brought that same idea with them for the protection of their horses and of their soldiers. Thus, the Moors taught the Spanish, who taught the Mexicans, who taught the Navajo their belief systems and metallurgy."


Story of The Squash Blossom Necklaces

This neclace is folkloric ornament. Most oftenly used with Haggala (Beduin people) and also sometimes with Saidi or Ghawase. I associate with Haggala though.

Tahia Karioka had a trade mark of wearing it with about every costume. Some times it was on her bra, some times on the belt. It is a neclace even though she has added it in her costumes.