About

Wear A Piece of History

Forget about the value, for me antique used to mean creepy. Until I took a second look at Philippine tamborin necklaces. They didn't look creepy, in fact, they looked very nice. I never really understood it until I discovered its origin and the painstaking process of how it was made. I love how it survived after all these years and how it's part of my cultural history. 

So now I'm always on a treasure hunt and I love to share what I find along the way. There's nothing like old jewelry that takes my breath away.

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Brief History of the Tamborin Necklace:

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 to 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 1900s, 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 or 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. 

Tambourine Jewelry seeks to revive this delicate lost art by offering pieces that are in their original condition along with some gently up-cycled jewelry using preserved vintage components.