Jewish bride from Sana'a, Yemen
Object description:
Unlike her counterparts in other areas of Yemen, the Jewish bride from Sana�a looked like a dazzling piece of jewelry herself. She wore a tall tiara adorned with pearls (�tishbuk lulu�) and surrounded by a row of sweet-scented flowers. A green silk scarf (�wardiyyeh�) hanging from the top of the tiara flowed down her back, and sprigs of basil and rue (�ambar�) were attached to her temples to ward off the evil eye.
Triangular filigree pendants with long pearl chains hung from either side of the tiara, against the bride�s temples, and a �labbeh� necklace framed her chin. Beneath the labbeh, her chest was decorated with rows of beaded necklaces worn in a set order. Most of the necklaces were made of hollow silver or gilt-silver spheres (�dugag�); others were made of threaded coral beads (��agd mirjan�) and pearls (�ma�nageh lulu�). Each necklace had an amulet container (�kutub�) in the center. Under the set of necklaces was a chain of bells (�hijaleh�), used by Muslim women as a belt.
Under the jewelry that bedecked her, the bride wore a woven coat (�jallayah mizahhar�), two underdresses, and trousers with embroidered leggings. This embroidery, together with the components of the tiara, are what distinguished her from Muslim brides.
Reconstruction: Aviva Muller-Lancet and Aliya Ben-Ami, the Israel Museum; Rabbanit Bracha Qafih and the Zadok family, Jerusalem
Object/Work type:
Cultural Heritage type:
Location:
Jerusalem - Israel
Production
Date: Early 20th century
Resource
Rights Type:
Record
Source: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Identifier: 199822