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Comments

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  Betty July 10, 2015 at 3:43pm

  I would agree with Palestinian. Beautiful bracelet!

  Our member Lynn Ardent recently showed a bracelet of a similar design...
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  Sharleen July 10, 2015 at 4:30pm

  Thanks Betty! I'll check out Lynn's bracelet.
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  Peter Hoesli July 10, 2015 at 5:58pm

  Dear Sharleen; Betty is right. This beauty has all ingredients of a Paledtinian bracelet. Very special with the red beads. With kind regards. Peter
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  Sharleen July 10, 2015 at 7:57pm

  Thank you so much for commenting Peter, ..much admiration for your vast knowledge, I'm just starting out!
  Sharleen
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  Lynn Ardent July 17, 2015 at 2:18pm

  Sharleen, this beautiful bracelet is called "aswareh habbiyat" and was made in Nablus, Palestine. Worn by villagers in the central hills of Palestine, usually in pairs.  Here is a photo of a woman wearing a pair of them, with haydari bracelets also.
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  Sharleen July 17, 2015 at 2:51pm

  Wow Lynn, what knowledge! Thank you so very much for that. I have seen your beautiful very similar bracelet, aren't they lovely! Would they have much silver content? It's so heavy it doesn't seem possible. Anyway, thank you so much again for commenting. Sharleen
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  Lynn Ardent July 17, 2015 at 3:10pm

  Sharleen you are most welcome.  My guess is that your bracelet is probably around .800 silver, which would be the same as mine.  This type of traditional jewelry was intended as a store of value like a woman's bank account, so it was important that it be heavy with silver that has intrinsic value apart from the craftsmanship.  If you read books on Palestinian women's costume like Widad Kawar's books, you will read many accounts of women selling their jewelry to fund an undertaking like building a house, or when finances were difficult.
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  Sharleen July 17, 2015 at 4:40pm

  Lynn, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge