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 silver gilt bracelet

Posted by Loulou Hogan on November 14, 2012 at 12:26pm

I recently bought this item on ebay. It was very tarnished, but I removed the tarnish (using aluminium foil and salt water) to leave what appears to be a silver gilt finish, though there isnt much gold actually left! There are no hallmarks on the bracelet that I can see. It closes using a screw pin. The previous owner bought it from in Saudi Arabia from a silversmith who bought it from a yemeni market as a "rare antique". I do not know it's age and I wonder if anybody has seen one before and could give me an idea of age. I love this bracelet and I feel I've found real treasure on ebay! :-)

Comments

Ethnic Embellishments November 14, 2012 at 2:07pm

This is lovely, a very unusual style. I like it much better than the typical bracelets one normally sees from Yemen.
Patricia Deany November 14, 2012 at 2:09pm

This does look a bit Yemeni to me, although there are differences in the ones that I am used to ( granulation seems a little larger for example) But Yemeni jewelry does sometimes have a gilt finish so that would be authentic and often there is not a hallmark on the larger pieces. I am assuming it is fairly heavy and tests for some degree of silver? (although silver is also not a necessity of Yemeni jewelry because they often use metal) Looks old and authentic, has a lovely shape as well. So an excellent find.
Jose M. Pery November 14, 2012 at 8:18pm

Wonderful bracelet!!. Marlene Ponce has on her website a not identical but similar that is described as coming from Northern Yemen. I also saw some years ago a ring, Yemeni as well, that had the same kind of work.
Loulou Hogan November 16, 2012 at 9:37am

Yes I agree that the granulation is quite large. The bangle weighs 60g and is about 3cm tall. I havent had it tested for silver but I believe it is solid silver (coin silver?) I've done a search on the internet but the only thing that I have found that is anything like similar is a pair of silver gilt wedding cuffs on this site, though they are more delicate with smaller granulation. It fastens with a well made left hand screw thread and from similar fastening designs I've seen online I'm thinking it's +1920's, but I'm only new to this so I could be wrong.
Loulou Hogan November 16, 2012 at 9:38am

Jose, do you havve the link to the similar bracelet on Marlene Ponce's site? I couldnt find it and I'd love to compare
Patricia Deany November 16, 2012 at 11:13am

I believe this is the one that he is referring too. The borders are...
Jose M. Pery November 16, 2012 at 1:15pm

Yes, that is the one.
Loulou Hogan November 16, 2012 at 1:43pm

Ah yes, I do see the similarities. many thanks
Jose M. Pery November 21, 2012 at 6:30pm

Hi, Louise.

This is the link to the Yemeni ring I was referring to some days ago ...

http://img0.etsystatic.com/005/0/6310935/il_fullxfull.373249864_48l...
Linda Pastorino January 19, 2013 at 5:44am

This is most like a pair I own that I thought were Moroccan or Yemen, was not sure. I purchased mine from a dealer in states who got it in Morocco but also who gets things from Yemen. The work to me is more Yemen but then in some cities they do fancier work. I thought i had a photo in my files but seemed to have vanished. I will post when I find them.