Vintage Brazil Penca de Balangandan Brazilian Good Luck Charm Silver Pendant Brooch Amulet – They Jingle!
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| ayquebella.com |
Exquisite 5-charm Penca de Balangadan pendant brooch has a very rich symbolic and spiritual history. “Penca” means bunch or cluster and “balangandan” is the jingling sound the charms make when they move. These meaningful talismans were utilized from the 1600’s to the early 1900’s by enslaved people of African descent for spiritual protection, to welcome blessings, for good health, fertility, and prosperity. These were traditionally worn on a woman’s waist or hung over a doorway.
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| ayquebella.com |
The remarkable hollow charms are attached to the ornate, hinged, bowed, open oval shaped ring with two symbolic birds facing one another; one representing Africa and the other representing Brazil. The elegant design of the oval ring represents a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean and it holds the five charms, each with spiritual significance:
- O berimbau (“the berimbau” the musical bow in the music of the Afro-Brazilian martial art, Capoeira) represents the rhythm of life,
- As uvas (“the grapes”) represents relief from sorrows,
- Cuia chimarrão (“the chá erva mate” gourd) symbolizes the womb or fertility,
- O milho (“the ear of corn”) represents the land and fertility, and
- A romã (“the pomegranate”) represents fertility and humanity.
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| ayquebella.com |
The lightweight charms are locked in place on the penca by the pomegranate charm which acts as “the key.” Charms can be removed or added to the penca with ease by gently opening the O-ring on the pomegranate charm to remove it and releasing the right side of the penca to open slightly the hinge on the left. The penca remains securely closed with the aid of the pomegranate charm.
This brilliant piece of incredible and authentic African cultural heritage is a symbol of Brazilian pride. This beautiful, very lightweight convertible pendant brooch has a natural patina and can easily be worn as a brooch on its own or displayed from your favorite necklace or chain!
