A Yemeni necklace (or bridal necklace) with a round, laterally positioned amulet holder made of best-quality silver as the central pendant. This amulet box can be opened at one side. It was used to hold paper amulets, such as handwritten Qur’anic surahs, ‘magic squares’ or the bride’s ‘wedding contract’. The chain is attached to the four upper eyelets of the amulet cylinder. It consists of five spherical beads on each side. The beads, crafted from the best-quality silver, are strung by size and display typical Yemeni shapes with soldered decoration.
Attractive, old round beads made of yellow amber sit between the silver beads, separated from them by small, angular spacer beads. The long, conical end beads made of silver have rings for a hook-and-eye closure. The amulet holder and all the metal beads are made of pure silver. The small angular spacer beads and the six spherical bells hanging below the amulet box are made of silver alloy. All parts, including the amber beads, are old and have been used. The amulet holder, the four smaller silver beads and the conical finials are visibly older (more worn) than the six larger silver beads. The entire chain has been subsequently restrung. Some parts display noticeable traces of usage (small dents), otherwise no damage. All in all, a large, typical piece of jewellery.
Length: c. 84 cm. First third of the 20th century, partly earlier. (ME)

Provenance: German private collection.

Lit.: ‘A World of Necklaces’ by Anne Leurquin, ill. 170 (Yemeni pearl forms).