A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.
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The box is 13x9cms, decorated in typical fashion with fine filigree ... this one with hearts and scrolls .. and in the centre, there is a blood red carnelian cabochon. The box is full of papers which seem to have lain undisturbed for years.
You made a beautiful photo of it, Thelma. It is indeed a glorious piece. I am happy that you have it in your collection.
Anna
What a beauty Thelma. I like the idea of the papers still inside.
Thanks Anna. Yes this must have been ordered from a master craftsman. I always wondered why it wasn't signed, particularly as there was a tradition of signing good pieces in Yemen. So this was a puzzle ... until I read Marjorie's book. She explains that some customers would ask for their pieces not to be signed so that others would have trouble in finding out who had made them and therefore would have difficulty in having a copy made. And so, I suppose 'exclusivity' becomes important in urban jewellery ... adding value. I wonder if the silversmith charged the customer for the non-use of his signature :)
Thanks Toya. Yes, it's interesting to have the papers. You can open this box by sliding the lid at the top ... and there they are .. compacted and old. It makes the piece more complete somehow. This is how it has always been. In most cases, these boxes were emptied long ago
A very beautiful and elegant piece!
Thanks also for the interesting information. I'm still waiting for my copy of Marjorie Ransom's book...
Thanks Betty. Yes, I sent a message to Patti's blog earlier to let her know that some copies of the book have been released in the last few weeks ... maybe to people who put their names down for it many months ago. It's a good read and full of information arranged on a regional basis. So we will be able to identify where each of our pieces comes from.... :) I can highly recommend it.
A stunner of great refinement.
Good find
Thanks very much for the comments and for the feature. To me the piece seems ageless .. as appropriate now as it was then.
Stunning piece Thelma, congratulations absolutely gorgeous in fact..........I bought a hard copy of Marjorie Ransome's book from Book Depository recently.
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