Pair of Earrings (Nubian Desert)

This pair of gold disc earrings originates from the Nubian Desert in Sudan. These types of crescent-shaped circular earrings are traditionally known as Al-Fadwa, Al-Qamar Bouba, and Al-Aksh locally. Each earring features a stylised animal, likely peacocks, alongside floral patterns.

Artisans decorated the earring by impressing it using a traditional stamping mould known locally as al-Istinba. These moulds would have been designed and hand-carved. They are now considered a form of traditional Sudanese craftsmanship in their own right and played a significant role in shaping the visual language of Sudanese jewellery.  

In Sudanese pastoral society, such ornaments reflect social prestige linked to livestock wealth.