Marrakesh Red Pendant

DESIGNER'S NOTES

This classic silver plated pendant features an example of North African Islamic decorative tile design.

The mosaic tile tradition of Morocco, known as zellige, originated in the 10th century under Andalusian influence, flourishing during the Marinid dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries. Rooted in Islamic prohibitions against figurative imagery, artisans developed complex geometric ornamentation as a visual language of divine perfection.

Early zellige used limited palettes of white and brown, expanding under Marinid patronage to include cobalt blue, emerald green, and ochre. Fez became the epicentre of production, where craftsmen meticulously hand-cut small glazed pieces from terra-cotta tiles, fitting them into elaborate radial and star-shaped patterns.

The circular motifs and roundels symbolised unity within multiplicity, echoing Sufi metaphysics. This artisanal discipline became a defining emblem of Moroccan identity and architectural refinement.

STYLING

The pendant is a few centimetres in diameter with a 450mm chain, so style outside high necklines, or against the skin with lower necklines. Wear with jewellery of similar scale, such as a simple silver bracelet.