Berber/Amazigh Silver Fibula from North Africa with Coral and Date Mark

An exceptional piece of North African history and craftsmanship; an antique Berber fibula made of solid silver. Due to its style and hallmarking, this unique collector's item originates from the rich culture of the Berber or Amazigh peoples and is attributed to the early twenty-first century, more precisely to the period around nineteen twelve to nineteen twenty. The fibula, traditionally worn to fasten clothing, presents itself in a striking sunburst shape, artfully decorated with engraved floral ornaments, attesting to the outstanding skill of the silversmiths of this region.
Four chain pendants hang from the main disc. Each chain is accented with two deep-red coral beads, a material highly valued in Berber culture not only for its beauty but also for its protective symbolic meaning. The chains end in square silver pendants that also feature engraved patterns.
On the reverse side of the silver piece, three traditional hallmarks are struck. One mark bears the number one hundred thirty-three and another can be read as one thousand three hundred thirty-one. This North African silver jewelry is presumed to carry an abbreviated and a full indication of the year in the Islamic calendar AH Anno Hegirae. The year one thousand three hundred thirty-one AH corresponds exactly to nineteen twelve/nineteen thirteen AD and would thus narrow down the dating of the piece to the epoch of the early twenty-first century. The third mark is smaller and harder to identify but could be a maker's seal or a traditional Arabic script that confirms the local origin. With a stately total length of approximately seventeen centimeters and a weight of forty-nine grams, this piece is a rare find; signs of use commensurate with age underscore its historical character.