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Kurdish forehead ornaments. Iranian & Iraqi Kurdistan. Ca. 1950-1975.

Posted by Jean-Marie Criel on May 10, 2016 at 3:33pm

Two forehead ornaments. Kurdish, ca. 1950-1975. From Iranian Kurdistan, but also used in the nearby Suleymaniye district (Iraqi Kurdistan). Silver and glass paste. Both feature 13 Iranian coins (1944). Length: 33½ and 33 cm. Fixed on the hat or headscarves by means of a hook and a hat pin through the loop on the opposite side. Worn on the forehead, or (in some villages) on the side of the head: on the right for unmarried women (including the wedding day) and on the left for married women. Which explains the position of the hook: on the right (top) or on the left (bottom). (Inv.n° müç175a&176a - Kavak Costume Collection-Antwerpen/Belgium).

Comments

Lynn Ardent May 10, 2016 at 4:37pm

Dear Jean-Marie, these are gorgeous. I find Kurdish jewelry to be a unique blend of Ottoman and Persian traditions and it is still carried forward to the present day. Here are examples from Iraqi Kurdistan.
Peter Hoesli May 11, 2016 at 2:16pm

Dear Jean-Marie; I have posted two similar units (without coins) some time ago on this website and the opinions of what it represents or what it was used for differed so much. I really thank you for shedding light into this mystery - many EJ members will be thankful to you!

By the way, I have quite a few of the below Kurdish Iraqi belts, which I have posted on EJ some time ago. They are very rare but sooooo beautiful!

Really, many thanks Jean-Marie! Peter
Jean-Marie Criel May 11, 2016 at 11:53pm

Thank you, Peter, for the appreciation. With kind regards, JM.

PS: I noticed your Kurdish Iraqi belts; they are really beautiful, indeed.