Jewish bride from Sana'a, Yemen

Institution

The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

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:

Costume

Cultural Heritage type:

Costume (hierarchy name)

Location:

Jerusalem - Israel

Production

Date: Early 20th century

Resource

Rights Type:  

Record

Source: The Israel Museum, Jerusalem

Identifier: 199822