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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Hello LINDA you show us beautiful pieces! what taste!
I think the mask is Yemeni saw the work of the silver
I have no info on silver face masks coming from this area, but could be that before textile veils were adopted, face veils were previously made this way hence the fact that women kept adorning their textile veils with silver elements and heavy silver/gold embroidery in remembrance of the original one!
The single pattern that made me doubtful on on a possible southern arabian peninsula origin is those really enigmatic green(?) glass cabs in the middle
Linda you have recently posted a bunch of caucasian pieces recently and they all have this feel to their cabs, that is why i am more inclined to think that this veil is possibly more northerly than our first guess
The overall technique used here is common to the whole subregion and can be found from the balkans to the iranian plateau with the use of lozenge shape small appliques to adorn and strengthen as well as those typical grannulation surrounded by wires!
The use of a silver gilt mask have to come from an urbanised area and the mix of the techniques means that this could be a very cosmopolitan place or a major crossroad and far flung influences magnet!
The main issue for me are those triangles framing the piece which are seriously suggesting another famous pattern commonly found in western arabia (the hedjaz) on those huge necklaces which were still being made in the 1970/1980 in the saudi arabian city of Jeddah
Here is a picture of one of these necklaces, look carefully to the pendants
I think that these necklaces commonly called yemeni are actually coming from further north, possibly from Jordan to the north of the yemeni influenced provinces of saudi arabia (Jazan, Asir, Najran..) with the main production center being the very active and cosmopolitan city of Jeddah!!
IN her book "bedouin jewelry", Colyer-Ross talks about silver mask veils from this city without giving an illustration to back up her toughts. Veils that were common at a time but disappeared!
Jewelry of Saudi arabia is very much forgotten and discarded while everybody talks about the famous local couple Yemen/Oman when studying bedouin jewelry
But the fact that this country is the final stop of many trade routes and attracted influences from long ago had led locals to make some stunning pieces and this veil could very well be one of those forgotten adornment that many mistakes as being yemeni/Omani
Just some brainstorming
How about this jewel not being a mask at all? Just a guessing especially after a friend of mine commented on it being strongly related to all the Ottoman era works from the Balkans and suggesting it to be a regular pendant...he also added that the triangle frame would make the whole piece uncomfortable to wear as a mask...i guess sewed on a textile it would work but still it will bump on the nose and not remain flat for the eyes to have a clear gaze through the holes!
Re the cabachons, which are very much suggesting this!
Could it be possible to have a backside shot ?
It doesn't make sense what else it would be due to the sewing holes on the back . i can re shoot it . you can see the eye holes on the bottom . I tried it on and if sewn on a cloth it is very similar to other masks that have silver , coins and what ever on them along with the cloth which acts as padding. The work of the silver is not the same and is like Arabian or Yemen work in that it has small cut applied pieces on it that are triangular. Also the small dots with wire work are exactly like what they do in Yemen. I have had bracelets with gilding that have identical glass stones also. The mask is unrelated to the Caucasian jewelry . i purchased this mask in NY from a dealer that had no idea where it was from. Where in the book by Heather Coyler Ross did it mention the face masks? wondering this as i just went through the book and couldn't find it? thanks
All of this was a brainstorming as we often do here in the forum when we get the chance to see a mysterious piece.
We would love to have a definite answer regarding the origin and use of this "mask", again all the technical elements you mentioned could be very well found all over the ottoman influenced parts: re the appliques and the wires around dots and of course the cabs..... so it is not conclusive about the yemen origin
As for the reference it is on my french edition of the " Art of bedouin jewelry" on the last section named "regional styles" and under the subsection of "the west" where the author cites "that in the jeddah market one can buy a second hand silver mask...BURQA' " i don't know if all this fits the english edition, but have a quick search if you have got the book!
Hi the book has the same divisions but mine has a different paragraph under Western Province. I realized I have both copies one in French too. I think the work is too similar to these and since I have4 looked through Oman( heavier work and a bit different) Syria, Egypt and Saudi books i find the most similarity with the techniques of Yemen. Perhaps this was used in a particular area that is less known or of an antiquated form that is not used much now. Also I ordered the book that is coming out on Yemen jewelry, lets see if there is anything in there like this ..
The reverse has hooks on the top side and loops on the bottom corners much as it would if it were being secured to the top of something and sewn down in the corners and bottom. I also found gilt work with stones on bracelets and headdress ornaments shown here.