Friday, July 25, 2014

Yemen Silver Wheel Beads with Maker Signature


Signed by Yemenite Silversmith: a Pair of Silver Granulated Wheel Beads


Signed Silver Antique Yemen Wheel Beads Apparently from Same Workshop

$150  U.S.   CONTACT ME for invoice or for more information.  Use the private message form above left.

The intricate silversmithing on this traditional style of Yemen wheel beads is outstanding.  In the photograph below, you see the construction of the rows of granulation that become a usually perfectly round bead.  The beads are made to fit as bead caps for large amber beads or to fit together edge to edge on a kirdan or bridal dowry necklace.


On this particular pair of wheel beads, the signature and the manner of placing the signature inside the granulated silver wheel beads are similar, or identical in my view, thus leading me to believe these two fantastic old beads were made by the same Yemen Jewish silversmith some time in the late 1930s or early 1940s. 

Here is an illustration of how Yemen granulated silver wheel beads can be used with large amber resin beads: 


Antique Yemen Silver Hirz Amulet and Beads All Signed by Silversmith


$975  U.S.   CONTACT ME for invoice or for more information.  Use the private message form above left.

Here is a photo of all the signed beads and signed amulet on the necklace above: 



Below is an illustration of how the Yemen granulated wheel beads fit with large coral beads.  They will fit closely as bead caps as well as being separated by smaller beads:

Old Yemen Silver Wheel Bead with Coral, Amber, Bone Beaded Necklace

$65  U.S.   CONTACT ME for invoice or for more information.  Use the private message form above left.


These signed wheel beads add value to your collection of Yemen silver and they can be worn on a chain or cord as single beads. They look best when strung with copal amber or amber resin beads in any shade from lemon to deep caramel brown or with large coral beads. 

Measurements: 1 inch = 25 mm
18 mm diam x 12 mm height

   CONTACT ME for invoice or for more information.  Use the private message form above left.

16 comments:

  1. Another stunning blog post, Anna!
    Love the photos and how you incorporate them with the post.

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    1. Thank you very much, Gunilla! Let me know when you have your new website ready and I will post a link to it on my facingEASTdesigns blog.

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  2. The beads are beautiful. Your posts are always so informatiove and interesting.

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    1. Thank you for the kind comment and for the visit.

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  3. Thanks for sharing these pieces from your collection of Yemeni silver. Was the wheel shape used like "worry beads". It seems they would turn so easily on the strand and the granulations that the silversmith added would make the surface very tactile that you could turn the beads without looking at them. I like your piece with the amber resin beads.

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    1. Thanks, Pamela. The wheel beads were used for necklaces in the examples I have seen. They make worry beads of coral, agates, bone, horn and the like. No 'bumps' on the worry beads. Each bead on a string of prayer beads in the Middle EAst is usually the same size and shape (round), except for the marker beads at the 33 count mark.

      I used to have quite a collection of prayer beads or worry beads from the Middle Eastern countries where we lived, but I gave many of them as gifts and my collection is depleted entirely now.

      Thanks for your compliment of the amber resin beads.

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  4. Very cool beads. I would love to see them made.

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    1. I only know that the silversmiths worked with an open fire pit, some handmade iron tongs, iron pliers, a set of templates for drawing wire, wire cutters, and maybe a couple more handmade tools. With those primitive tools, they made astounding jewelry for bridal dowries.

      Thanks for the comment.

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  5. Such detail in those small wheel beads! The craftsmanship amazes me, especially since it was done over a fire pit with handmade tools. I wonder if anything so fine is worked in silver today?

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    1. I have necklaces in my studio that are probably about 1/8th the size of these, and the granulated silver is ever so fine! Those are called Bedihi beads. One community of silversmiths specialized in them. Nowadays the descendants of these silversmiths are in Israel where they make them in gold.

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  6. The ability of the silversmiths to make beads like with their primitive tools is astounding to me. Such intricate detail. m fascinated with the signatures. Would have thought they were just decoration - am glad you pointed that out. I always learn so much from you, Anna. Thank you!

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    1. It is truly amazing what can be done if a person sets his/her mind to it ;) Thank you for your very kind comment.

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    1. Thank you, Julie! What a very nice comment. Hope you will visit often.

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  9. Hey Anna, The necklaces are looking awesome. especially i like the the round beads. I get an for the silver ring also. :)

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