Omani Silver, Gold & Trade Bead Chin Necklace (Shibgat) & Headdress Chains

This type of necklace is known as a shibgat or shubqah was worn by Bedouin women in central Oman. Such a necklace was not worn on the chest but just beneath the chin, somewhat suspended mid-air rather than being worn against the body.

It comprises a stiff panel of embossed gold-wrapped plaques interspersed with ‘spiky’ silver beads and red barrel beads, plus two larger central gold-wrapped silver beads, all suspended from thick woven chains kept in place with gold wrapped plaques.

To enable the shibgat to be worn in this manner, it needed to be attached to a headdress or similar. For the example here, it is suspended from a series of chains worn over the head and possibly across the face.  These include more gold-wrapped plaques that act as spacers to hold the array of chains in place over the head covering to support the weight of the shibgat. There is also a thick silver coil that probably was intended to function as a counterweight, as well as being decorative. The chains helped to keep the shibgat in place but also any head covering that was worn.

The shibgat is in fine condition. It is unusual to have a shibgat still attached to its original head support chains.