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 Belt

From the Hadramaut Valley, approx. 31" long, woven by a woman from silver wire. The ideal length for these belts was long enough to wrap around the waist 7 times. The woman who wove this was not wealthy enough for a longer belt, and so this is a shorter example.
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Comments

  • Detail of belt....2506005767?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

  • A very beautiful belt. The weaving is so rich and dense.

  • Thanks, I agree...amazing to think that this is done completely by hand.  I liked the clean elegant lines of this piece.  I also love the idea that these were traditionally made by women for their own use.  Sadly, I am told that these are no longer made and that the skill is now lost.

  • This is a very wonderful piece of jewelry.

    One fellow memeber here had posted a similar object complete with finials, but i am pretty sure that this is not a belt and rather a loose chain that women would lace around or atop of their head (sometimes very very long ones need to be laced many times around the head like turbans) and make the finials hang like temple ornaments

    Could be used both as belts and head ornaments??

  • It is always possible that these had more than one use, and it would not surprise me if that was the case.  I was told it was a belt by someone who is an expert in Yemeni jewelry.  Personally, I wrap it around my neck a couple of times and wear it as a choker.

  • I would love to know the technique used for weaving the silver wire. It almost looks like the sort of thing kids used to make involving looping wool over nails round the inside of a cotton reel. But I`m not sure - are there three separate chains here or one thick one?

  • It is one thick chain.  I was told that this was woven by the women of the family.  I am guessing that the end pieces were provided and perhaps attached by a local silver smith.

  • Definitely the cotton reel method then, Edith!

    Well, presumably something more substantial but involving the same principle.

    A luscious piece.

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