Need help dating Yemeni silver beads

Got these Yemenite silver beads which I'm trying to research but no succes.

There are plenty similair pieces offered out there and many look a like, but couldn't find exactly the same one with the same design..


They also look older than the ones I could find on the net?

There is only one bead that looks like it could have a hallmark but not sure if this is only a work tool mark.

Any help if is welcome

 

They are 'dugag' beads ca. 1900, made in the style of the Bedihi family of silversmiths. The Bedihis were Jewish, like most Yemeni silversmiths, but made jewellery for all Yemeni communities.
Can we see the rest of the necklace?

 

I had a feeling you would know this

Yes off course you can see it. I comes with a Hirsz/Koran holder and other bits. Not sure if the others are for the ankles or braclet's. They are huge...

 

Nice! You've got yourself parts of a wedding set, love it.

 

Wow, stunning - I love them!

 

I also like it. Was thinking to frame them together in a deep frame or so. They are getting scarcer every day and the silver price is going up every day in these scary times.

Think it's maybe 83% because of all them Maria Thalers the Yemenites melted down to make their jewellery. The mid sized beads are probably lower silver so are the bracelets.

 

Yes 833 is the usual for old Yemeni jewellery. The Maria Theresia taler had a guaranteed silver fineness, so it was very popular in the Middle East and parts of Africa where there were no assay offices.

 

Do you need bell pendants for the hirz, or have they slipped underneath on the photo.

 

Yes indeed they slipped underneed the box when i laid it down. They still have the bell pendants intact.

 

You probably know that these necklaces were often assembled from parts in store. The hirz and the anklets appear to be by the same maker, and are gorgeous.
The large dugag beads could be Bedihi, but likely to be Bedihi inspired.
The decoration on the cones is highly unusual, but the flower (daisy) shape is typically Jewish.
That means that this was a set for a Jewish bride.

 

Yes indeed, they made many jewellery from different parts, they also used sometimes bit and pieces from North Africa in their works.

I knew they were made for a Jewish bride. Why do they call these box amulets koran holders? Should it not be a tora if it's jewish related?

I researched these beads like crazy. But could not find a single bead with the same decoration. This is what was driving me mad and ended up on this forum

 

Yes a strange term, they wouldn't hold a complete Torah, or Koran, for that matter. I always call them amulet boxes, and where applicable, hirz. They could have contained anything, it was personalized. So they held either healing or protective texts from the scriptures, talismanic stones, bits of cloth, herbs. Anything that would protect or assist in whatever was an issue to the owner.
About the bead, maybe there was only one person in an obscure settlement who ever made them. But he would have seen the original dugag beads, and maybe have been trained by a Bedihi.

Earlier you asked about a maker's mark, I forgot to answer that one.
It is not a maker's mark, here is one on a Bedihi dugag from one of my Yemeni necklaces:

 

Amazing thread of knowledge, thank you Any Jewelry . I am minded to join if I may.

 

Thank you very much @george bertram . Of course you can join, the more the merrier.
Is there anything you would like to show us? If you prefer you can start your own thread. Here is info on how to do that, please remember to click on the 'full image' box when you post photos:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/posting-a-thread-and-uploading-pictures.15990/

If you need any help, please ask, we have some computer and smartphone savvy people here.

 

What an amazing piece! Very neat to learning about it. I hope I see one in the wild one day!