Photos

Comments

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  Thelma June 17, 2014 at 2:40pm

  The box is 13x9cms, decorated in typical fashion with fine filigree ... this one with hearts and scrolls .. and in the centre, there is a blood red carnelian cabochon. The box is full of papers which seem to have lain undisturbed for years.
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  Anna Garner June 17, 2014 at 3:57pm

  You made a beautiful photo of it, Thelma.  It is indeed a glorious piece.  I am happy that you have it in your collection. 

  Anna
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  Toya June 17, 2014 at 5:44pm

  What a beauty Thelma. I like the idea of the papers still inside.
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  Thelma June 18, 2014 at 10:23am

  Thanks Anna. Yes this must have been ordered from a master craftsman. I always wondered why it wasn't signed, particularly as there was a tradition of signing good pieces in Yemen. So this was a puzzle ... until I read Marjorie's book. She explains that some customers would ask for their pieces not to be signed so that others would have trouble in finding out who had made them and therefore would have difficulty in having a copy made. And so, I suppose 'exclusivity' becomes important in urban jewellery ... adding value. I wonder if the silversmith charged the customer for the non-use of his signature :)
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  Thelma June 18, 2014 at 10:25am

  Thanks Toya. Yes, it's interesting to have the papers. You can open this box by sliding the lid at the top ... and there they are .. compacted and old. It makes the piece more complete somehow. This is how it has always been. In most cases, these boxes were emptied long ago
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  Betty June 18, 2014 at 11:41am

  A very beautiful and elegant piece!

  Thanks also for the interesting information. I'm still waiting for my copy of Marjorie Ransom's book...
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  Thelma June 18, 2014 at 1:05pm

  Thanks Betty. Yes, I sent a message to Patti's blog earlier to let her know that some copies of the book have been released in the last few weeks ... maybe to people who put their names down for it many months ago. It's a good read and full of information arranged on a regional basis. So we will be able to identify where each of our pieces comes from.... :) I can highly recommend it.
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  Alaa eddine SAGID June 18, 2014 at 3:05pm

  A stunner of great refinement.

  Good find
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  Thelma June 18, 2014 at 6:41pm

  Thanks very much for the comments and for the feature. To me the piece seems ageless .. as appropriate now as it was then.
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  ann June 25, 2014 at 9:19pm

  Stunning piece Thelma, congratulations absolutely gorgeous in fact..........I bought a hard copy of Marjorie Ransome's book from Book Depository recently.