Vintage Boucher pin Blackamoor man, 1960`s American

Blackamoor is a figure of a young male or female black African usually from North Africa `An Illustrated Dictionary of Jewelry` by Harold Newman. The head or bust is most common in jewellery. These figures were the speciality of Venetian artisans who while working in the `gateway to the east.` had some of the earliest opportunities to see a variety of races. The figure is inspired all of the mystery the east and so it comes as no surprise that a Blackamoor figure was considered to have protective powers and so one was worn as an amulet. In the 19th century as the Grand Tour of Europe became fashionable Blackamoor figures were intriguing and became the sought-after jewellery of the rich. In 1950`s & 1960`s there was a renewed interest in the exotic and so the Blackamoor look returned.