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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Very beautiful Preethi, and well-matched, even if not meant to be a pair from the onset.
Seems they are both stamped with a maker's mark. Unfortunately I cannot help further...
Absolutely lovely bracelets that you are lucky to have!
The bottom one matches the signature that others have identified as Hanna, and I expect the top one is as well because the workmanship is the same. This is what Nada has to say about Hanna on another post: "M is signed "Hanna" which means that they are the work of Yacoub Zakariya who always signed his work "Hanna", the name of his father. He started his work in Nablus and worked as a silversmith in Jerusalem and then Bethlehem until the 1967 war when he settled in Jordan."
These were worn in pairs up to three deep on women's arms. The earliest documentation I have seen is a painting from the 1871s showing them clearly. This is Mary from William Hunt's "The Shadow of Death" who is clearly wearing 1800s Bethlehem costume.
Here is a picture of turn of the century Palestinian bride and groom:
And a woman from Ramallah:
Dear Preethi; These bracelets look really nice and they really feature an almost identical pattern. It looks to me that they were made by the same silver smith. Nice indeed. I have 4 of them in my collection. 1 identical pair and 2 individual pieces. They are also signed but I will check the next time, I am at home. With kind regards. Peter
Very nice bracelets Preethi. They are both hallmarked "Hanna" and that’s why they have a very similar design. I would have never imagined that Palestinian jewelry would reach Morocco! Thank you for posting and thanks to Lynn and Nada for the additional info. Hold on to them as they have become very rare and if you find any for sale they are quite expensive. Br
Thank you all for the great info! Lynn, those images you shared are a treasure - thank you! Wonder what that other bracelet above the elbow of William Hunt's Mary is....