Set 2/8 - Bersheeba - Palestine - Face Veil - Photos

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Set 2/8 - Bersheeba - Palestine - Face Veil

Posted by Peter Hoesli on February 1, 2015 at 9:26am

This face veil has it all! It weighs almost 2kg! There are several 22 karat gold coins featured on it plus many many silver coins, corals, shells, etc. etc.. The nose ring, which is fastened on the top left side, is only there in order not be lost from the set.

Comments

Thelma February 1, 2015 at 9:46am

Superb, Peter. Very beautiful .... and terribly heavy. I wonder about the mechanics of this... how such a heavy veil could stay in place without falling forward. Does it have a story? I wonder what the seller said when he sold it to you. Did he know its background? It looks as if it has been very well looked after for many years.
Betty February 1, 2015 at 1:51pm

Wow! What a beauty... it sadly reminds me of an opportunity to buy such a pice (not quite as impressive) a few month ago, which I let pass... Thank you for sharing this and the other pictures. I love Palestinian jewellery, but sadly there is not much around anymore.

Like Thelma I cannot help but wondering about the immense weight. But perhaps it was only worn on special occasions?
Lynn Ardent February 1, 2015 at 3:33pm

Simply unbelievable!! The best I have ever seen, a privilege and a responsibility to own. Thelma and Betty I believe that when the weight is properly balanced, a lot of weight can be carried on the head. (Ex: women who carry bundles or water pots on top of their heads over long distances.) I think the straps were drawn back across the top third of the head and tied securely. With how wide the center piece is, the weight would have been well distributed and once you are used to it, reasonably comfortable for special occasions where you are not doing manual labor.
Alaa eddine SAGID February 1, 2015 at 5:35pm

Stupendous, this is a museum piece
Linda Pastorino February 14, 2015 at 12:29am

incredible quality, one of the best i have seen! Like what my parents used to buy me from Palestine in the 70's which I have sold all a long time ago. Was this available recently or did you buy this a long time ago?
Peter Hoesli February 14, 2015 at 5:29am

Dear Linda; many thanks for your message. I bought this only about two weeks ago. However, I bought it from a dealer, who knows me well. He does not display these items, he keeps them in his drawers and cupboards. As mentioned in one of my earlier postings, he also has a Palestinian head cover with a complete (and it is really complete) arrangement of gold coins but that should cost a little fortune.
The other month when driving in Amman, I have seen a Jordanian couple, who entered a taxi next to me in front of a traffic light. They must have gone to a wedding. The lady, who was already in her 60s, was wearing a huge necklace with a large number of solid gold coins. It looked absolutely fantastic. This can only rarely be seen nowadays. Such finds as this veil are absolute exceptions - unfortunately... With kind regards. Peter
Linda Pastorino February 14, 2015 at 7:07am

What makes this outstanding is the quality of the beads and age of the coins and silver. I have seen alot of head coverings collected by several collectors in the field recently viewed a collection that was donated and many of them were not as old or as wonderful. The difference in finding ones of this caliber are so rare and so limited that almost one can say price is no object. There are a limited number of pieces around of this quality of any type so i think the fact that you got it now is especially rewarding as so many of the top pieces are not around or in museums or collections. Your skill in hunting things down in the field shows how it's still possible if one is serious and has the ability to travel as you do. It takes a real commitment to find such things so hats off !