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

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

It comprises a stiff panel of eighteen embossed gold-wrapped plaques interspersed with ‘spiky’ silver beads and red barrel beads, plus three larger central gold-wrapped silver double-cone beads, all suspended from thick woven chains kept in place with gold wrapped plaques. The sides are also decorated with embossed gold plaques.

The uppermost and lowermost gold plaques are embossed with stylised figures of the Hindu deity Hanuman, suggesting that the gold might have been imported from India. However, in the Omani context, the wearers viewed the Hanuman figures as Islamic spirits or djinns.

The shibgat panel is suspended from two broad sets of silver mesh chains, each of which is decorated with three gold-wrapped spacers.

The shibgat panel has been attached to a panel of textile woven with metallic thread – an unusual addition.

The shibgat is in fine condition. The item retains thick dollops of scented paste here and there. This was added to perfume the wearer and typically comprises ground sandalwood, ambergris and so on.