Trinkets from Oman - part III

Here's the last installment in my little series about Omani silver jewellery.

If you like your jewellery BIG, then you'll love this kirsh kitab (coin or disc with writing). To give you and idea of the size, the disc measures about 7 cms in diameter and the bar across the top is 10 cms in length! I drew this piece for the Illustration Friday prompt of 'Talisman' which you can find here. It would have been worn by women throughout Northern Oman not only for protection, but also to bring gladness and cheerfulness to life.

A close-up of the inscription

This is a Hirz , or amulet box and chain which was worn by women of Northern Oman. To protect the wearer, a piece paper with writing from the Koran would have been inserted into the box.

This is a brooch called Shoka which means thorn. It was worn either to fasten the head cloth or the top of the dress and like many decorative pieces it also has tinkling bells attached.

A Marie Theresa Thaler (or dollar) pendant. Several of these often made up large, very heavy necklaces interspersed with other silver and/or coral beads.

This is a new necklace made of old beads and a silver hair ornament (several of these would have been attached to the end of an Omani girl's long plait, the little bells jingling as she walked). Here they have been combined with hematite to fashion a long necklace that I wear a lot!

A big handful of old silver beads and pieces from an incomplete head band. One day I'll get around to giving them a new lease of life!

To finish off, this is a pen and ink picture of Fanja, an Omani town, by Peter J Ochs. Though not the best quality photo as I've taken it through the glass, if you click for a closer look you may just see that it has been painstakingly stippled with millions of tiny dots!

I've discovered that the artist has also written this guide to Oman which would certainly come in useful if you're ever fortunate enough to travel to this wonderful country.