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We have a vast collection of images here which have been shared over the years ...
Click on an image to see the discussions around the piece.
Enjoy!
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There is a story to this jewel. This was in a Connecticut estate auction in October of last year. At the time I was not even sure it was an iznaq, as the pictures were awful and it was so much more ornate than any example I had seen at that time. But, I fell in love with it and participated in the live auction online. I got into a bidding war with a person who was physically present, just him and me, and in the end I lost my nerve. At the time I was OK with it, I thought I was being fiscally responsible. But I never stopped thinking about this piece and over time I developed deep regret over not bidding higher. In March of this year, the original buyer decided to sell it and by pure luck I was able to purchase it. So this is the necklace that got away, and then came back!
I have been collecting photos of women wearing similarly ornate chin-chains. These two are not exact, but they are the closest. This necklace is probably 19th century.
What a wonderful story Lynn. It shows that you and the piece were meant to be together!
Thank you Hillary! I did feel like this was fate. :)
Wonderful piece and the fact that you know all about it and its history makes it even more valuable as a heritage piece. Congratulations for this nice piece and thanks for posting it Lynn.
A great story and a very beautiful jewel. Congrats, Lynn!
Enjoy wearing it (perhaps not as a chin-chain - though I imagine that would arouse considerable attention :-))
Thank you Mustafa and Betty! Luckily the chin chains are always wearable as necklaces, and there are some historical photos that do show women wearing them as necklaces for a change of pace. :) Though Betty, this is going to arouse some attention no matter what, because it is wonderful and huge!
Congratulations Lynn. This is a really beautiful version on the Bethlehem "Iznaq ", one of the best I have seen. In local language, it is called the "7 souls Iznag" referring to the seven chains which make up this necklace. I once had a very similar one but unfortunately I was tempted to sell it! This one –with the cross in the middle- was typically worn by Christian women while ones with a floral centre piece were worn by Muslim women. I would highly advise you to hold on tight to this piece as it is a truly iconic jewel and considered the crown of all Palestinian jewelry. Br
Beautiful chain Lynn! nice story too.. There is a white flower called Star of Bethlehem (ornithogalum umbellatum) In spring you can see them on the plains of Syria and Palestine. But I don't think this is the flower on your chain, because it has 6 flowerleaves , the flower on the pendant has more. And the green leaves are different.
Thank you Johanne and Sami! Sami, I agree with you. I might never get another opportunity to have such a beautiful and elaborate iznaq, and I hope to keep this for the rest of my life. Do you have more Palestinian jewelry that you might share photos of?