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Description
Yemen Silver Bead Necklace - Finished NecklaceThis amazing necklace of 6 large Yemen silver beads, each one signed by the artist, and 7 smaller spacer beads. The beads on this necklace are extremely well matched. Each bead is hand made and comprised of many tiny silver elements that have been hand applied to each bead, with an equator around the middle and longitudnal lines up and down. These beads were made by Jewish silver smiths living in Yemen before World War II. These beads are beautiful
This amazing necklace of 6 large Yemen silver beads, each one signed by the artist, and 7 smaller spacer beads. The beads on this necklace are extremely well matched. Each bead is hand-made and comprised of many tiny silver elements that have been hand applied to each bead, with an equator around the middle and longitudnal lines up and down. These beads were made by Jewish silver smiths living in Yemen before World War II. These beads are beautiful gems -- all bear the signature of the artist -- and have a lovely patina.
The beads are in excellent shape and are very solid (note that the extra weight does add to the price). The beads are strung on a silver chain with a clasp in the back. The larger beads measure approximately 30 mm in diameter and the smaller spacer beads (which are also quite beautiful) measure about 18 mm in diameter. The entire necklace measures 18 inches. The entire necklace weighs 147.2 grams.
The history of these amazing jewelry pieces is laid out best by our friends at Beadazzled:
Yemeni Silver Beads
Centuries-Old Craftsmanship
At the southern tip of the Arabian Desert, Yemen juts into the Gulf of Aden, which links the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean. For thousands of years, Yemen served as a crossroads of land and sea routes between Africa, Asia, and Europe, for the movement of goods and peoples and the diffusion of technology, art, religion, and ideas. This cross-cultural contact left its mark on Yemeni jewelry, which incorporates a great variety of motifs with varied meanings. Historically, the finest work was crafted by Jewish silversmiths, largely for Muslim clients, not only in Yemen but throughout the Middle East. They used precious materials from distant sources and metalworking techniques that go back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Legend says that Jewish traders first settled in Yemen in the 10th century BC, after King Solomon sent ships south to fabled Ophir in pursuit of trade, and the Queen of Sheba returned the visit, traveling to Jerusalem via camel caravan, bearing gold, gemstones, and those prized Yemeni products, frankincense and myrrh. In time, Jews came to flourish as craftsmen in Yemen, excelling as gold- and silversmiths until the mid-20th century. Then, in 1949-50, virtually all the Jews in Yemen left for Israel. Before departing, however, Jewish smiths trained their Arab counterparts, who strive to carry on the proud legacy of Yemeni craftsmanship. While it is difficult to determine the origin and dates of much Middle Eastern jewelry, Yemeni pieces are distinguished by their quality, and to this day, the finest are praised as “Jewish work.”
Forms and Functions
Besides enhancing a woman’s beauty, traditional Yemeni jewelry reflects her cultural environment. It shows what ethnic or religious group she belongs to, whether her husband is poor or prosperous, which town or village she is from or whether she is a nomadic Bedouin. The uses of traditional jewelry afford insights into the patterns of traditional life. Personal ornaments play a role in the age-old rituals of securing a spouse, celebrating a marriage, welcoming a birth, protecting against evil, and praising God.
Marriage contracts were customarily sealed with bridewealth, mainly silver jewelry. Provided by the groom, it becomes the wife’s property, ensuring her economic security. From time to time she may add to it with a gift from her husband, by making household economies, or by using the proceeds from the sale of a rug she has woven to acquire more jewelry. In time of need, a woman may sell some of her jewelry.
The most spectacular array of jewelry was traditionally worn by Jewish brides of Sana’a, the capital of Yemen. Swathed in gold brocade, the young bride, who may not have even reached puberty, was so weighted with jewelry she could scarcely move. Rings encircled her fingers, bracelets encased her arms, and strands of huge gilt silver beads, called dugag, enveloped her body from neck to waist, which was enclosed in a silver belt hung with bells; ropes of pearls and gold pendants hung from her temples; an elaborate bib necklace, called a labbeh,wreathed her chin; and crowning all was a high tiara framed in fresh flowers and layered with shimmering white pearls, precious red coral, black beads, and gold filigree dangles. Called tishluk lu’lu’, this towering headdress gave its name to the entire ensemble. Other festive occasions when a woman displayed pieces from her jewelry collection included the henna painting ceremony before the wedding and the Sabbath when she first received visitors after childbirth.
Huge silver spheres adorned with barley patterns were the most prominent feature of the wedding regalia of Jewish brides. These silver beads were popular among Muslim women, but ordinarily Jewish women didn’t wear them. They preferred jewelry with wheat designs. On her wedding day, however, the Jewish bride wore many strands of these beads, both plain and gilt silver—she was embellished all over with barley motifs. The use of these beads in the Jewish wedding ensemble enlisted the power of the “Other” for added protection of the bride during the perilous transition from girlhood to womanhood. Conversely, pregnant Muslim women often wore Jewish jewelry to ward off the evil eye and ensure a healthy child. In yet another example of cross-dressing, so to speak, the traditional finery of Yemeni Muslim brides included large cubical beads of amber; these beads were also sought after by Jewish mothers, who hung them round the necks of their children or sewed them to their clothing as amulets.
Bedouin and village women wear a great deal of jewelry while milking goats, weaving rugs, grinding grain, or kneading dough. Massive silver bracelets are always worn in pairs, sometimes five pairs or more. Although they look heavy, they are usually hollow and are relatively light. Anklets are also worn in pairs, while multiple rings adorn fingers and toes. Nose ornaments include large beaded hoops hung with dangles, long pendants inlaid with glass beads, and silver studs in the nostrils. Hoops hung with dangles also decorate ears; often multiple hoops are worn through the ears or suspended from a chain that passes over the head.
Protective ornaments have many forms and functions. Cylindrical or rectangular amulet cases are also sewn to children’s clothing, and a woman’s necklace may incorporate several such cases. The cylindrical cases are called hirz by Muslims and ktab (pl. kutub) by Jews. Some may be opened for the insertion of sacred verses from the Koran or Jewish scripture. Others are left empty and soldered shut. The cases themselves are believed to be invested with amuletic powers that not only can turn away malevolent forces but can attract benevolent ones. Similarly, reciting the 99 attributes of God while counting their 99 prayer beads, the Muslim faithful invoke divine protection as well as divine blessings. And as a woman moves through the bazaar, the tinkle of tiny bells and swish of silver dangles is protective as well as seductive, as is the aroma of scented jewelry intensified by body heat—sound, motion, and smell can repel mischief-making jinn and at the same time attract the glance of passing admirers.
Motifs and Meanings
Rich in symbolism, the opulent ornamentation of Yemeni jewelry echoes Islamic expression in other arts—the lush floral patterns of Persian rugs, the dazzling geometric designs of tile mosaics, the curving lines of calligraphy. Animal and human motifs are rare and highly stylized. A notable exception is the eye, which is widely used to counter the malevolent gaze of the evil eye and deflect it from the wearer. Reduced to its essence in the form of dots and circles, the eye often embellishes dark wood prayer beads in the form of silver piqué work or adorns a silver pendant as a luminous gemstone cabochon. The hand of Fatima also turns away evil, as do arrowlike triangles and swinging tassels. The sun, the moon, and the stars are Islamic astral motifs. The six-pointed Star of David is a mystical Jewish symbol.
Many motifs recall primeval forms of human adornment—seeds, fruit, leaves, flowers. These symbols of nature endure in Yemeni jewelry as stylized rosettes, foliage, grain, almonds, berries, and mangos. While their specific meanings are often unknown, these motifs are associated with general well-being. Grain and pomegranates, bursting with juicy seeds, are symbols of abundance and fertility. Wheat and barley are also linked to women’s daily task of grinding grain to make bread, the basic staple of the Yemeni diet. The Jewish preference for wheat motifs can be traced to the Bible, which tells that barley was used as fodder for Solomon’s horses. Jewish silversmiths were learned craftsmen who knew the significance of each motif—its magical attributes and connection to Koranic or Talmudic texts—and they matched their designs to their clients. Today much of this lore has been lost, and the meaning of many motifs lies buried in the collective unconscious.
Materials and Techniques
Every large village once had a resident silversmith who made jewelry for all patrons. Some craftsmen traveled the surrounding desert to serve the nomadic Bedouin. But over time, silversmiths, like much of the population, migrated to the cities where they set up shop in the suq as both artisan and merchant, with clients all over the Middle East. The largest community of Yemeni smiths congregated in Sana’a, the capital, where several hundred Jews once worked in the silver suq. Their silver supply consisted in large part of recycled silver. In the Arab world, jewelry is not heirloomed, that is, a woman’s bridewealth is not passed down from generation to generation. Rather, when she dies her jewelry is sold to the smith, and the proceeds from such a sale can help a family purchase new jewelry for a new bride when the occasion arises. For his part, the smith puts the jewelry in a burn bag and melts it down as needed to replenish his silver supply.
Since the mid-1700s, the principal source of the silver used in Middle Eastern jewelry has traditionally been silver coins, preponderantly the Maria Theresa thaler, named for the Queen of Bohemia and Hungary. Because the thaler’s standards of weight and fineness were rigorously maintained, it became a standard of value that is widely used in Asia and Africa. After Maria Theresa died in 1780, coins bearing that date continued to be struck. About 200 million thalers were estimated to be in circulation in Yemen and Ethiopia in 1900. And to this day they continue to be struck and Yemeni smiths continue to draw on this huge pool of thaler, with its stable silver content of about 85%, to regulate the quality of their silver. Recently Middle Eastern smiths have accessed yet a third source of supply, silver ingots from China.
The clientele of the smiths is varied, and they vary their work accordingly, tailoring it to their customers’ resources as well as their tastes. Since Bedouins are generally poorer than farmers, Bedouin jewelry is generally made of lower grade silver than the jewelry of settled folk, and red glass, or sometimes jasper or carnelian, is used instead of coral. While the jewelry Yemeni smiths made for their Muslim peers was often similar to what they made for their fellow Jews, they tended to lavish more time and effort on Jewish pieces, crafting elaborate filigree elements, for example, instead of using easily made stamped parts. For pieces commissioned by high-ranking Muslim clients, Jewish jewelers worked in high karat gold instead of gilt silver or simply silver, and used pearls, Mediterranean coral, and high-quality gemstones.
The tools of the Yemeni silversmith’s trade have remained essentially the same over thousands of years of Middle Eastern metalworking. His basic toolkit is simple: a wooden block, a hammer and anvil, along with chisels to cut, awls to pierce, punches, stamps, and burnishers, as well as a blowpipe or bellows, a melting crucible, and molds of some sort.
Fundamental to his work is the fabrication of flat sheet, grains and shot, and wire. These are the basic elements from which he constructs his jewelry. He then turns to his vast repertoire of techniques to create rich surface ornamentation: hammering and annealing; casting and soldering; repoussé, chasing, and engraving; embossing, punching, and stamping; appliquéand openwork; granulation and filigree. Using a dapping block and a punch, the smith creates hemispheres from silver sheet. Then soldering two hemispheres together he creates beads which he subsequently decorates, using wirework and granulation. He also uses granules and shot as structural elements to reinforce joints of sheet or wire. In addition, he makes small cubical beads called tut entirely from shot soldered together. Using wire of various gauges, he makes chains, loops, links, and rings to assemble the various components.
Traditional Yemeni jewelry is made up of myriad components, rich in detail and decoration. Besides being used to link elements together and suspend pendants, chain is also used for decoration: short lengths serve as fringe, long lengths swing from headdresses, and delicate links are an integral ornamental feature of bib necklaces. Yemeni jewelry is also characterized by a profusion of pendants, plaques, bells, and dangles in many different shapes. As many as five or more amulet cases may be strung along with other components in a single necklace. Exotic coins are also prominently displayed—Ottoman, Arab, French, Indian, but especially Maria Theresa thaler. They are hung from necklaces either as simple pendants or embellished with dangles. Flat surfaces provide a perfect canvas for smiths who find empty space abhorrent, and pendants, caps, plaques, spacers, and triangular terminals are typically encrusted with abstract and vegetal ornamentation created by granulation, appliqué, and filigree.
Pearls from the Persian Gulf and gemstone beads, especially red-orange carnelian from India, are occasionally used in Yemeni jewelry. But coral of various colors, most notably precious red coral from the Mediterranean, has always been the material of choice to complement the silversmith’s work. In addition, red is a symbol of beauty and youth and is believed to have protective powers. Coral beads are often interspersed with another distinctive Yemini bead, a solid silver octagonal bead the size of a pea, called mithamminah. Coral pieces are also set in bezels on amulet cases or plaques. Today precious coral has grown scarce and become expensive, however, and red glass beads and cabochons are often used instead. Other exotic materials that Middle Eastern jewelers have had access to since times of the Silk Road include amber from the Baltic, ivory from Africa, gold, and gemstones. Among the more humble materials they sometimes use in jewelry are cowrie shells, faux amber, and scented beads made of local plant materials, such as myrhh and cloves.
Traditional Jewelry Today
In the rapidly evolving Middle East, much has changed in the six decades since the Jewish smiths left Yemen. Traditional silver jewelry is disappearing, as is the traditional world in which it was created and used. The demand is now for gold. Upscale urban dwellers’ desire for gold is usually satisfied by contemporary jewelry made in Italy. while rural folk’s lust for glitter lures them to cheap costume jewelry. And although some of the traditional wedding finery is worn on special occasions, for the marriage ceremony, the bride usually wears a modern white wedding gown.
Because Yemeni families do not heirloom a deceased woman’s bridewealth but sell it to smiths who recycle the silver, examples of traditional silver jewelry more than a generation old are rare. In large urban suqs, however, a few elderly silversmiths remain. Masters of their craft, they continue to use traditional techniques to produce traditional designs in the face of modernity, mass production, and a dwindling clientele. And if a knowledgeable collector or dealer is lucky he may find a good piece in stock, or better yet, she may be allowed to rummage through the burn bag and save a treasure or two from the fire.
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4.7 ★★★★★
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 5
Fun for your dog and fun for you to watch their antics with this Interactive IQ Treat Ball
Size: 3 INCH, Pattern Name: IQ TREAT BALL 3"
This delightful ball is both a feeding utensil and a workout all in one! Your dog not only eats its calories, it burns them off at the same time!
I have a little dachshund, Sophi, who loves her treat ball. They call it a treat ball but I use it for kibble that fits inside. Sophi doesn't need more treats than just a few every few days. If you fill this with treats, it's too much in my opinion, unless you have a really playful dog who needs to gain weight.
You place the treats or kibbles inside one half of the ball (the one without the hole in it). Then you adjust the size of the hole in the white center piece to allow either one or a few pieces to fall into the chamber at a time. You place the white flat part over top of the kibbles and then screw on the other half. There is a hole in the end of the ball and once the kibble/treats roll around in the chamber and make their way through the one hole inside to the opposite chamber and then reach that hole, they fall out. Sounds complicated but it's not.
This ball teaches the dog that rolling the ball makes treats/kibble fall out and they get to enjoy them. This is where IQ in the name comes in. It doesn't take long for a dog to figure out that they get treats by rolling the ball around and making them fall out.
Not only does the dog get exercise pushing the ball around your floor, it really is entertaining to watch. Our Sophi hears the kibbles fall out and if she doesn't immediately see them, because the ball continues to roll, we get to see that "where are they?" and the floppy dachshund ears frantically searching. We have hardwood floors so the ball rolling quickly and bumping into table legs and furniture, Sophi trying to get the kibbles--it's quite a show that has us laughing a lot.
It's a sturdy plastic ball, easy to fill and easy to put together. Small enough to tuck into a bag for travel--about the size of a baseball, or smaller. Will roll easy on carpet with a dog pushing it with their nose or very quickly on hardwood.
Rather noisy on hardwood floors with the assertiveness of the dog and it bumping into things, so watching something on TV can be difficult. But the entertainment you get, who needs TV?
It'll only hold about 1/2 c or a little more of small kibbles (you cannot pack it full) so it's more for multiple feedings, snacking or play. I ordered 2 of these so that when one was used and needed cleaned, there was always a clean one. I throw them in dish water or the dishwasher, top rack with no problem. No cracks or breaks in almost a yr of use.
Highly recommend this interactive treat ball. Not only will your dog enjoy it, you will enjoy watching your dog enjoy it.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2015
★★★★★ 5
Great Energy Outlet for an Active Dog!
Size: 4 INCH, Pattern Name: IQ TREAT BALL 4"
I have a 1 year old Australian Shepherd/Border Collie/Cattle Dog mix named Josie. When you look up "hyper-active dog" in the dictionary, you'll find her picture. She could run for days if she wanted to. I am always looking for things to help keep her from getting bored, and this treat ball is great!
She was only about 3 or 4 months old when I got this and introduced it to her. With a little help from me, she figured it out in no time. Now she's a pro, and knows exactly how to paw at the ball to make it spin and fling food out.
I have the 5-inch ball. Josie's not a big dog (40lbs) and she can get her mouth around the ball to pick it up. She only does this when it rolls onto the linoleum floor in the kitchen. I think it gets too loud for her (and me too!). I always put it away when the food is gone so she doesn't use it as a chew toy. She has never gotten bored of pushing it around and decided to chew on it. She can hear the food rattling around inside and continues to play with it until it is empty. This isn't the type of toy that you would give to your dog, and then leave them unsupervised.
The ball is made out of hard plastic, and does make a loud banging when it runs into walls, chairs, etc., but it has never left any marks on my walls or furniture. I actually prefer she use it on the carpet because it's quieter and she always gets all of the food pieces (it works just as well on carpet as it does on a hard floor, fyi). If I lived on the bottom floor or in my own house, I wouldn't have a problem with her using it on hard floors, however she always brings it back to the carpet on her own when it rolls off.
I like that the hole on the middle divider is adjustable, and you can also just take the middle part out of the ball so you can fit more food inside, the dog can see the food so they're more motivated to get it, or to make it easier for a younger/older dog to get food out.
My dog loves this ball. She gets excited when I take it out and start filling it with food. With the divider it has enough room for half of her portion. She always goes for the ball first, empties it, then to her dish. When she's done eating she always lays down and takes a nice long nap. I know that she enjoys it, and it definitely gives her 15-20 minutes of good, mentally-stimulating indoor exercise. It also taps into their prey-drive, and I think that helps make your dog feel like a dog.
Overall this is another great buy from Amazon. I did see it at the pet store (after I had gotten mine) for double the price!
***If you have a dog that is food-motivated and needs something to do, buy this. It's worth it.***
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Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2011
★★★★★ 3
Great toy while it lasts
Size: 3 INCH, Pattern Name: IQ TREAT BALL 3"
We purchased one of these for our 10 pound Malshipoo as she gets bored easily and this thing definitely keeps her busy for awhile while she tries to get the treats out. She rolls and kicks it hard enough that I'm sometimes fearful it will break but after having owned it for 14 months it's actually held together quite nicely to my surprise. I think it came apart once and that's probably because I didn't have it screwed on correctly. The only reason I didn't rate it higher was two things: First, I don't like that the top section is in two parts and you have to fit them together just right for it to screw on. Why not make it one solid piece on the top? The second reason I didn't rate it higher is the white plate with the hole you twist to make the hole bigger or smaller is now a lot looser so when our dog bangs this against a wall or anything hard the hole shifts and makes it bigger thus the game doesn't last as long. So I'm purchasing a new one and hoping this doesn't happen again. I guess it's just wear and tear but I would have like it to last longer than 14 months. Maybe I guess my expectations aren't realistic. Hopefully the next one lasts longer.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2025
★★★★★ 4
This is a good toy to keep some dogs busy
Size: 4 INCH, Pattern Name: IQ TREAT BALL 4"
I purchased this for my pitbull that is very food driven. One thing I first noticed about this ball is the type plastic it's made of. It's similar to the plastic they use for some cheap hamster balls. I would be cautious If you live in a two story home that doesn't have carpeted stairs because this my break after falling down the stairs or a few drops from a few feet. If you have a small dog, be cautious if they bite onto the ball because they can get their teeth stuck in the small holes. I would also advise people with large dogs with strong jaws from this toy because if they crush this plastic, the edges will be sharp enough to cut their mouths.
The first thing you would have to do is adjust the center white disc to the size of the treats. If you make the hole too big, too many treats will fall out too fast and it will shorten the time you dog will play with this. You can put small training training treats or dog food in the bottom half of the ball. I use my dogs food for my dog. Be mindful of the amount of the treat's calories and the quantity you put in the ball. Just make sure you account the extra calories for the amount of exercise your dog receives otherwise you may have a chubby doggy. After filling the bottom half and placing the white disc on top of it, all you have to do is screw on the top and its ready for your dog to work for their tasty snacks.
I wouldn't have given this to my dog when she was younger because was the type of dog that would of destroyed the toy when she was aggravated with it just to get to the treats. Now she's learned to figure out toys before she brings it to me to help her out. I usually fill it up with some low calorie food and when she gets down to the last few bits, she gives up on the toy and leaves it where it is or brings it back to me to open it up for the last few pieces. I was surprised after several uses, the lid never accidentally came unscrewed while my dog was playing with it.
Overall this is a good toy to keep my dog occupied for 20-30 minutes. Shes a pretty smart dog and shes learned how to get the treats out fairly quick. Your mileage may vary depending on the size and shape of your treats you put in.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2017
★★★★★ 5
Kept our dog busy!
Color: Navy Blue, Color: Navy Blue
We have a 4 month old corgi and he is obsessed with this toy. The puzzle pieces move really easily so they are able to get into it but also create enough of a puzzle for them to move around.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2026