An antique all 14K gold tamburin necklace from the Philippines. I love that the beads are originally together which is so hard to find these days. I had to wait for a matching relicario to come along to go with the same gold karatage. Love the details of this piece from the intricate “mariposa” or butterfly connector to the reliquary and the flower detail inside the glass. This has been professionally cleaned. As with all the tamburin necklaces we sell, this has been restrung on silk thread with french wires at the ends to protect the beadwork and give it a polished look.
In Spanish-colonial times, jewelry like crucifixes replaced the talismans worn by native Filipinos. To the converted Filipinos, it was not only a way to show their new Christian faith, but also adorn themselves while still following austerity measures imposed by the Spanish regime.
Filipinos began wearing crucifixes and scapulars along with tamborin necklaces. The “tamborin” is a traditional Filipino necklace patterned after the rosary. The neckpiece itself followed the rosary bead pattern, but by the early 1900’s, different styles and patterns came out. Even the relicario or reliquary that served as the pendant of the tamborin which originally had religious designs, started to feature nature-inspired themes like flowers of leaves. While most tamborins were made of gold, materials like silver and brass were also used.
These beaded necklaces became heirlooms. Sadly, there are only a small number of authentic gold tamborins remaining today, as most have been melted and turned into modern jewelry, or the beads were divided among the family members, and many of the necklaces have missing components.
Measurements:
Chain Length: 30.00 inches
Round Beads: 3.50-7.00mm
Flat Beads: 6.40×7.60mm
Height (relicario): 1.13 inches
Height (w/ mariposa): 1.66 inches
Width (widest part): 0.87 inch
Total Weight: 30.10g
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*Vintage items typically show signs of wear. Please check all photos to see actual condition of the item.
