Massive Egyptian Suar

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Massive Egyptian Suar

Posted by Lynn Ardent on November 2, 2015 at 4:23am

This is an absolutely massive Egyptian cuff. The design is all engraved by hand and the work is extraordinary. It was made by Osta Abraham, a Tunisian Jew who settled in Egypt and catered to the needs of the western desert oases (such as Siwa) and Bedouin tribes. When worn it takes up more than half of my forearm. About 260 grams. More views in the comments.

Comments

Lynn Ardent November 2, 2015 at 4:30am

View of side and back
Mustafa J. Salem November 2, 2015 at 5:35am

Daer Lynn: This is a great cuff. Made by very simple tools but yet it is extraordinary in its art. The details are perfect and dimensions are very exact when you look to the flowers and their details for example. This is definitely an old style cuff with two grooves. This style is also worn in Libya and Tunisia, but the motifs would be different if made in Tripoli or Djerba for example. I show you above an example of a similar cuff from Libya which is also an old one and with two grooves as well. Note that there differences in decoration but some similarities and also same style of engravings
Tesori Orientali November 2, 2015 at 5:56am

you need to wear just this to go to the Opera ,...Lynn !!!!

Gorgeous!!!
Peter Hoesli November 2, 2015 at 9:51pm

Well, the Opera might just be fit for this absolute beauty! Unfortunately, in most countries in the Middle East there is no opera. Cairo has one since over 100 years. The first fabulous Opera at Cairo's "Opera Square", which was part of Haussmann's city planning (Haussmann was not only the city planner for Paris but also Cairo. This is why the downtown Cairo looks literally like Paris - just not renovated...), was unfortunately burnt down and is now a big ugly car parking building. A new Opera was built in Zamalek, an island in the Nile in Cairo. But then there are sometimes the live Aida Operas in front of the Pyramids organized - an event not to be missed. By the way, the Opera Aida was composed by Verdi for the opening of the Suez canal and had its opening on the same occasion, which was also attended by Her Empress Eugenie from France, for whom a Palace was built for this purpose only. This Palace became later on the Omar Khayyam Hotel and is now the fancy Marriott Zamalek. To my knowledge, only Muscat has an Opera House (recently opened by Placido Domingo) and Dubai is going to get one soon.... and as I know Qatar, they will follow suit for sure... Anyway, you see, you will be able to take this gorgeous cuff along during a visit to the Middle East! With kind regards. Peter

Gallery

Massive Egyptian Suar

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