Photos

Comments

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  Toya June 22, 2011 at 4:51pm

  These are so beautiful.
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  Joost Daalder June 23, 2011 at 10:32pm

  All four of them Yemen purses. The one at the bottom looks almost artificially "perfect", but that may be due to less wear than the others show. In any case all four are interesting and attractive.
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  Patricia Deany June 23, 2011 at 11:40pm

  I like the great variety of design. The delicate spirals a the top really appeal to me. I have not seen these on sale very often, really only one time when I was lucky enough to buy it for myself.. Did you travel to Yemen to obtain so many examples?
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  Isabel Iglesias June 24, 2011 at 12:20am

  Yes, I have been to Yemen 15 years ago and that's when I have bought all these things...now I regret not to have bought more, but it was my awakening time to ethnic jewellery and I did not have great knowleged, just instinct, otherwise I would have bought more...
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  Joost Daalder June 24, 2011 at 2:23am

  Isabel, with good things the reaction you describe - which one experiences, later, when NOT having bought - is indeed acute, and usually correct. I think one gradually does learn to become more confident and less inclined to let something truly good go, even if at the time spending the money "hurts". Conversely - and this is easier, in my experience! - one learns NOT to buy the things that are only "so-so": later, one becomes more and more annoyed at having either "compromised" or having talked oneself into buying a "bargain", while one knows that in fact the article is not really good, and often either could easily be bought again (sometimes for less) or would not produce a good price if one sold it. From a collector's point of view, it is usually far better to keep the money for a really good piece, or even spend it immediately (assuming one will be able to survive without going bankrupt), than to let that go. The only way a good piece would become cheaper later on would be if it goes out of fashion. Otherwise, good pieces do continue to go up, as the rich are UNCOMPROMISING and insist on the best: and they, finally, carry the market. Those not so well off are far less reliable, and best sold to when (a) there is plenty of money around, and (b) the object is one which is trendy at that particular moment. Anyway, you DID buy various good things 15 years ago, and you know you are happy with those, so just keep building on that experience. Also, accept that - throughout one's life - one continues to make mistakes, but should make fewer as one gets more experience.
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  kim price July 14, 2011 at 11:06pm

  i really find these charming!
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  ann October 18, 2013 at 8:00pm

  Isabel these are stunning - unusual and all that fine detail in the granulation, absolutely gorgeous.  I am impressed.