Photos

Comments

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  Eva Baby August 28, 2014 at 8:51am

  love them, am curious if someone will know more about them. 
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  Savanna Caravan August 28, 2014 at 9:05am

  They are Yemen pieces, from a belt ... they would have had a strip of leather through them, thus the wide opening.  Now, any ideas for how to use them, besides a belt!
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  ingrid Langerak August 28, 2014 at 9:14am

  Could it also be part of the sword decoration, like in Ethiopia, the point of the sword is decorated with a piece of about 30 cm and a smaller piece suchs as these higher up.  Except that the piece is  about 5 cm high, as it has to go over a bit of a curve. 
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  Harald August 28, 2014 at 1:59pm

  Used on a belt on silver chains? You can make a necklace out of them on those silver chains like the Yemeni head ornament below.

  
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  ingrid Langerak August 28, 2014 at 2:08pm

  Good Idea Harald, but you will need a good jeweller to fix with funds to go and will not come out as on your picutre. I think putting two pieces on a belt maybe the best option sofar.
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  Savanna Caravan August 28, 2014 at 2:15pm

  Thanks Harald for this valuable photo. In the absence of original chains and/or leather, I'll have to resort to being creative.  I'll post the finished piece or pieces! Whatever, the are wonderful components with a solid weight and lovely patina. I agree with you Ingrid!  Better the old than a reconstruction!
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  Lynn Ardent August 28, 2014 at 2:21pm

  Awesome find!!  In Marjorie Ransom's book, these were also used in Yemeni headdresses.  You could string them with graduating silver chains through the ends and make a necklace, perhaps tiered.

   
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  Savanna Caravan August 28, 2014 at 2:22pm

  Ingrid, good idea about the sword, but I would surmise that pieces for swords would be super silversmithing .. these are quite clunky and look as if the silver has been folded over at the back without too much attention to detail.  
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  Savanna Caravan August 28, 2014 at 2:36pm

  Thanks, Lynn... I have Marjorie's book.. I'll have a look. How to stop them sliding is a challenge! A wire bail would be a solution - through the opening, not soldered on - don't want to spoil their cultural integrity.  In my jewellery workshops I've sometimes given my students (almost) identical (old) components and the different designs always amaze me.
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  ingrid Langerak August 28, 2014 at 3:01pm

  Actually not super silversmithing Savanna, they are also quite crude, when I come around it will place a photo of them, because them being moved on and off, they have to be sturdy.  Sword decorations were put on the sword when on parade for their king or Emperor.