Antique Yemenite PendantsPendants

Bought these from an antique store in Jerusalem. Any idea of age and significance?

 

They are amulet cases/boxes, ca 1900. The single one was probably made in Yemen proper, the double one either in Yemen or somewhere else in the Middle East.
These cases were hung on chains, stone (coral!) and silver necklaces, belts, headdresses, anywhere where protection was deemed necessary.
You can still get old bells to put on the single amulet case.

Here is something I wrote before in another thread:
Originally amulet cases held some kind of talisman, which could be a protective text, herb, stone, etc, but they often came to be considered protective on their own.

Yemen was the main silver country in the Middle East, and Yemeni silversmiths were in demand throughout the region. Yemen always had an important Jewish community and many Yemeni silversmiths were Jewish. They made jewellery for all faiths.

In present-day terms, Yemenite is the word used for Yemeni Jewish people in Israel post-1949.
This could have come to Israel 1949-50, with Yemeni Jewish people who were brought to Israel during 'Operation Magic Carpet'.

 

T

Thank you so much I'm going to a large marketplace in Jerusalem tomorrow, so I hope to have more things posted. Is the double one supposed to signify a Torah?

 

Not in this position, sideways. Maybe if they are upright.

Don't pay too much.

Edit: And buy good quality.

 

Here is a detail of a southern Yemeni necklace with a double amulet case, it is not religion specific, just means more protection:

 

Barn, don't buy something because someone tells you it is Yemeni or Yemenite. Buy it because you like it and/or think it is a good investment.
Little pendants of the quality you bought are not much of an investment. For instance the single one will only bring you a little profit you got it under $10.

 

Thank you for the advice. I bought them to keep and give as gifts. I don't plan to sell them.

 

I love the idea of protective amulets.

 

How much would you recommend paying for single pendants or beads? I know prices will be a bit inflated compared to online prices, but I don't mind paying more since these will be gifts.

 

It depends entirely on the quality of the pendant or bead. The single pendant you bought is at the very lower end of Yemeni, the double one is better quality.
I have no idea of the Israeli market for these, but maybe the price I quoted can give you some idea of what I would pay.
Although essentially jewellery parts, they would look nice on a leather thong or a silver chain.

 

Once again a wealth of information from AJ !! Thanks so much .. I read and absobed the whole thing .. you are truly a treasure yourself AJ, Thank you again ... Joy.

 

Enjoy your trip...

 

Thanks! I make jewelry so I'm going to use these parts to make gifts.

 

Wonderful! You'll need to find those bells, then.
Enjoy your stay!

 

and any Eilat stones that cross yer path......

 

They no longer mine it, so if you can get it for a reasonable price....
I have some gorgeous Yemenite Eilat jewellery from the 50s-60s.

 

I'm a certified eilat hoarder. We have a big enough Jewish population that it turns up sometimes, and enough ignorant estate dealers that once in a while it goes cheap. I do have one or two loose pieces, and in the old days it even turned up in costume settings! Now it's mined out; they're importing some chrysocolla from Ethiopia if memory serves - the blue-green stuff.

You may also be able to score pieces with color-change stones. They're generally synthetic, what else in a silver setting, but seriously cool. I can see a teenager being fascinated by them. They'll most likely be the ones that are blue in fluorescent lighting and purple in natural light.

 

Overhere it is usually the younger generation with no interest in Israel, who come across their mother's or grandmother's old-fashioned junk, and sell everything they don't like. Especially the pendant with a funny blotchy stone and frilly filigree.
I always feel charitable, and really don't mind the funny blotchy stones and frilly filigree.

 

It's a strange stone...but once you know it's history......it kinda grows on ya !!!

 

The stuff with the black in it is from Israel, right out of Solomon's copper mines. That's the story anyway. I snag larimar too when that pops up; it's the stone of the Dominican Republic and isn't found elsewhere. They excavate amber too, some with a blueish tint. Larimar, the good stuff, is white and sky blue mottled. It's not mined out...yet....