Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons License
Pair of Pendants from a Woman's Headpiece
Ornaments such as these were part of a woman's headpiece. They were fastened at the sides of the headband, hanging down from the temples and flanking the face. These triangular pieces are cast and have one top and four bottom loops, which are soldered on. The front design consists of four ovals facing in different directions, and five small circles in between. A granulation border frames the motif. Six long chains hang down from the pendant (sequence: 2-1-1-2). The small, flat dangles at the lower end of the chains represent small hands.
On the back of the sister pendant is a stamp in Arabic with the name: al-Mahdi. The similarity to stamps of al-Mahdi al-"Abbas makes it likely that the pendants were produced under his reign from AH 1161 to 1189 (AD 1748-1775).
The silversmith's name is engraved in Hebrew on the back: Yahya Habshush.
Inscription
Provenance
Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.
Mr. Benjamin Zucker [Zucker Family Trust] and Mr. Derek Content, New York and London, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 2010, by gift.
Geographies
Yemen (Place of Origin)
Measurements
Triangle H without loops: 1 9/16 x W of base: 1 1/8 in. (3.9 x 2.9 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Benjamin Zucker and Mr. Derek Content in honor of Mrs. Barbara Zucker and Mrs. Amanda Content, 2010
Location in Museum
Not on view
Accession Number
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.
VO.115 (57.2311A, 57.2311B)