Earring thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Earring

1850-1900 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

In the 19th century, until their final exodus to Israel in the 1950s, Jewish goldsmiths made most of the silver jewellery in the Yemen. They were particularly renowned for the quality of their filigree work, which was worn and appreciated as much by Muslim as by Jewish women.

This delicate pendant is typical of the kind of fine filigree made by Jewish silversmiths in the 19th century. It was described as an ‘engagement earring worn by Jewish women’ when it was acquired in 1909.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver-gilt filigree with pendent seed pearls and a red glass bead
Brief description
Silver-gilt filigree earring with seed pearl pendants, Yemen, 1850-1900.
Physical description
Pear-shaped silver-gilt filigree pendant with applied granule rosettes and a filigree rosette on its base. There is a loop at the top for suspension, and eight loops round the lower edge, from which hang eight strings of seed pearls. There may originally have been 16 strings of seed pearls, as one loop has a double string, and one is empty. Most of the strings have a single red glass bead at the end, and four also end in a hollow pointed silver pendant with a loose silver bead hanging from its lower end.
Summary
In the 19th century, until their final exodus to Israel in the 1950s, Jewish goldsmiths made most of the silver jewellery in the Yemen. They were particularly renowned for the quality of their filigree work, which was worn and appreciated as much by Muslim as by Jewish women.

This delicate pendant is typical of the kind of fine filigree made by Jewish silversmiths in the 19th century. It was described as an ‘engagement earring worn by Jewish women’ when it was acquired in 1909.
Collection
Accession number
M.103-1909

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest