Gallery

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.

Palestinian Kirdan

Posted by Lynn Ardent on May 25, 2015 at 3:00am

This is a very large and heavy Palestinian kirdan from Nablus, or Jordanian kirdan from Kerak. Made in high grade silver, and restrung in the 60s-80s. The focal element on the neck, the middle elements, and the upper crescent and lower flower are all worked in filigree with granulation applied on top of them. The 68 coins date from the 1800s to the early 1900s. These kirdans were made in Nablus or Kerak and worn in both Palestine and Jordan. I lean towards this being Palestinian due to the similarity of published examples but I welcome other opinions. With many thanks to Jyrki Lammi.Dimensions:36cm at widest20cm at longest370 grams

Comments

Peter Hoesli May 25, 2015 at 9:10am

Dear Lynn; This is a great posting indeed. A fantastic Kirdan, with great details and foremost, complete! typical Ottoman elements. This design can be found in all Levant and your assumptions are correct. I have found the rosettes, which are fantastic on this piece, also on jewelry from Yemen, which benefited as well from the Ottoman influence.
Sami Yousef May 25, 2015 at 9:35am

Wow ! That's what I call a museum piece ! This Kirdan is surely palestinian from the ottoman era -possibly from the British mandate era too- this style and similar ones are used in the levant and turkey but this one in particular was worn in Nablus ( my home town ). You may find a very similar image in "Palesinian Costume" by Shelagh Weir p195 , congratulations Lynn , your pieces are a true joy to look at - and probably to wear-. Br, Sami
Lynn Ardent May 25, 2015 at 4:19pm

Thank you Peter and Sami! I am extremely happy and lucky to have this piece and it is even more beautiful worn than photographed flat. The collar is so wide the metal parts go most of the way around the neck and all the dangles align forwards in a profuse fall of coins. Thank you Sami for confirming this is from Nablus! I will look at the photo reference.