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.

YEMENI AMULET AND NECKLACE

Posted by HALTER on May 28, 2012 at 9:52am

Silver, coral, old silver coins , amulet,YemenDescription:Great piece for collectors with its silver work ,the old arabic coins and the coral beads. The filigree on amulet is exceptional : the silver wires are arranged, either singly or in a group, to create a design, then fixed and soldered onto the metal base.When welded to one another, they form an open - work ornament, and may be decorated with granules or pearls.Weight:240,7grHeight:NECKL:18,11inchWidth:Pend:2,36inchLenght:Pend:2,75inchwww.ethnic.com see "Necklaces and pendants" and still in my collection in the Gallery

Comments

Harald May 29, 2012 at 8:20pm

Is this beautiful "pendant" made of the front part of a mans purse?

I have seen those purses used on other necklaces like pendants. No amulet for sure?
Anna Garner May 29, 2012 at 8:37pm

It does appear to be a lid to the pocket or purse that slips over a man's belt. I have had two or three of those. Still have one for sale on my sales site.
HALTER May 29, 2012 at 9:07pm

Not in this case, Anna but I can understand you could say that without having a view of the backside of this amulet...
HALTER May 29, 2012 at 9:11pm

The way it opens make me say that it couldn't have been a purse...no way.
Harald May 29, 2012 at 9:19pm

Please, can you show us a picture of the backside of the pendant. When it is not a part of a purse what is the use of the pin at the bottom? On a purse the pin is for opening the top of the purse to put the money in it.

Below a picture of such a purse with the pin on the top.
HALTER May 29, 2012 at 9:31pm

I don't have time to do that now but the pin on an amulet could be in this islamic area to open the amulet to put coranic verses...there is nothing special on the backside which could let think that it could be a part of a belt purse for men?! Moreover the interest in this kind of object is for me not the religious one but the beauty of the filigree and the quality of all the elements of it...
Anna Garner May 29, 2012 at 10:16pm

Ah, yes, I had one shaped almost the same as this one that did not slip onto a belt as a pocket, and had no lid. We actually guessed that maybe it had served to cap the man's belt???? It too had been strung with beads and made an attractive piece of jewelry when we admired it and collected it some years ago. It has been sold now.
Harald May 30, 2012 at 10:45am

What is the tickness of your pendant mr. Halter?

Anna, the Mahfaza (purses) are about 18-19 mm. thick and can be opened by the lid by taking out the pin. The backside is plain with a kind of flat hoop for fastening to the belt. These "hoops" are often broken of or taken of by the dealers to use the purse as a pendant. The ornaments, that look the same as the purses fronts but no lid and thin and flat, are used at the end of the man's belt as decoration.
HALTER May 30, 2012 at 11:25am

After checking, I have to admit that you are perfectly right about your last comment Harald and mine is 16mm...effectively it was previously a purse attached to a belt...sorry but when you wrote to me I didn't have the piece ( I was home) so your comment adds something to the description of the piece.

Best thoughts

Michel
Anna Garner May 30, 2012 at 2:54pm

Yes, Harald, I did recall that I had one of the latter kind (the thinner) and two of the others. In fact I have one listed for sale at http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/craftsofthepast/4086328/

I show several views of it there and the measurements as well. In fact it is displayed on a belt in one of the photos.