Berber Bride Unveiled

This 12-year-old child bride reflects the ideal of Berber beauty; her lips are colored with crushed walnut root to plump them, her eyes are outlined with black antimony to brighten them and her complexion glows with saffron and ocher painted in a traditional pattern on her cheeks. Her silver fibula cloak clasps symbolize purity and honesty and represent the ikfer turtle, believed to be endowed with protective and magical powers.