Enquiry about object: 9903
Pair of Omani Silver & Gold Bracelets (Hagula)
Sur or Ibri, Oman 19th century
width: 8.3 and 8.6cm, thickness of the flat section: 4.6cm, combined weight: 343g
Provenance
private collection, UK
This pair of closed silver bracelets decorated with thick gold sheet that has been chased with geometric motifs, is from the Bedouin people of northern Oman.
All the gold plaques are present, and yet the pair has splendid wear and patina.
Bracelets overlaid with gold in this manner were associated with the coastal Omani town of Sur, which had close trading and migration links to the Swahili Coast and Zanzibar on Africa’s East Coast. The geometric motifs employed often are associated with the interior town of Ibri. The bracelets could be from either Ibri or Sur.
A related, later pair, is illustrated in Hoek (2004, p. 61). Another is illustrated in Rajab (1998, p. 64).
The wear on these and the manner of construction whereby the gold sheet has been wrapped over the contours of the bracelets to secure it suggests an earlier, 19th century dating.
This is an excellent pair.
References
van Cutsem, A., A World of Bracelets: Africa, Asia, Oceania, America, Skira, 2002.
Hawley, D., Oman & its Renaissance, Stacey International, 1977.
Hawley, R., Omani Silver, Longman, 1978.
Hawley, R., Silver: The Traditional Art of Oman, Stacey International, 2000.
Hoek, C., et al, Ethnic Jewellery: From Africa, Asia and Pacific Islands, Pepin Press, 2004.
Rajab, J.S., Silver Jewellery of Oman, Tareq Rajab Museum, 1998.
