Necklace with Coral Beads

Walters Art Museum Object Description

Silver jewelry was an important part of tribal culture in Yemen, as it constituted a family’s wealth, which could be worn (typically by women) and thus transported with their nomadic or seasonal movements. Both Jewish and Muslim women in Yemen wore elaborate silver jewelry, especially for weddings and on other festive occasions. Many elements of Yemeni jewelry had talismanic functions, meaning they possessed the spiritual power of protection and blessing (baraka). The noise made by bells and dangles, served to protect the wearer from the ills brought on by the malevolent glare of the evil eye. Some Yemeni jewelry like this necklace features beads made of coral or other red materials. The color red was understood to promote good health for women, especially during childbirth. For this reason, expectant mothers were often gifted a necklace with coral beads for their first child. The skilled artists who created this type of jewelry were primarily Jews, many of whom signed their work. This regional tradition of silver jewelry flourished at the end of the 19th century and lasted until the mid-20th century, at which point Jews were expelled from Yemen.For the latest information about this object, Necklace with Coral Beads, visit the Online Collection of the Walters Art Museum.