Silver Link Bracelet or Anklet from the Arabian Peninsula

Silver Link Bracelet or Anklet from the Arabian PeninsulaThis is a beautiful silver link bracelet or anklet from the Arabian Peninsula from the mid century. I have not found an exact copy in my research. The closest I have come to are similar hair ornaments from Saada, Yemen shown in Marjorie Ransom's Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba and these may well have been adapted from a pair of such ornaments. It also could be an Omani anklet. A very similar construction of the links can be seen in the British

This is a beautiful silver link bracelet or anklet from the Arabian Peninsula from the mid-century. I have not found an exact copy in my research. The closest I have come to are similar hair ornaments from Saada, Yemen shown in Marjorie Ransom's Silver Treasures from the Land of Sheba and these may well have been adapted from a pair of such ornaments.  It also could be an Omani anklet. A very similar construction of the links can be seen in the British Museum's online collection 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details/collection_image_gallery.aspx?assetId=1241359001&objectId=3348100&partId=1

 This is what the British Museum says about this type of ornament: "broad flat silver anklets (habus or hubs), made up of a series of interconnected vertical pieces (senduk) decorated with diamond-shaped motifs. ...associated with women and girls of the coastal towns and villages of Dhofar."

This bracelet does have a different closure than the ornament shown in the British Museum however and the hook was clearly a later addition. The bracelet tests as high-grade silver and is in good condition.

• Length 16.5 or 6 1/2 inches.
• The width is 1.8 cm or 3/4 inches.
• Weight is 24.1 grams.

For more Bedouin jewelry visit the Bedouin Jewelry Section.