Rare Pair of Omani Silver & Red Glass Bead Bracelets (Malnaut)

Omani bracelets of this type, known as malnaut, are striking and thus iconic – they stand out in publications and museum collections, but almost never appear on the open market, perhaps because they are from the Dhofar region in Oman’s more isolated, dry and less visited south, which is far from the commercial and trade oriented north. Malnaut bracelets are distinctive and found only in Dhofar.

Each comprises six silver, barrel-shaped, pieced, cog-like, spikey beads; three pink-red glass cylindrical beads intended to emulate coral; and three silver cuboid beads bordered by spikey fringes.

The beads are threaded onto thick silver wire and each bracelet opens and has a hook catch.

The spikiness of the bracelets seem to draw inspiration from the thorns encountered in the deserts of Dhofar.

Dhofari silver tends to be quite different from that of northern Oman. It is chunkier and there is greater use of glass beads, as is the case here.

Examples of malnaut bracelets are illustrated in Hawley (1997, p. 139), Hawley (1978, p. 86), Hawley (2000), and Another is illustrated in Rajab (1998, p. 36).

The pair here is in excellent, wearable condition. Traditionally worn in pairs, it is fortunate that this rare pair have remained together.