Unusual Bedouin Saudi Silver Collar Necklace

This exceptional silver collar or choker necklace, from the Bedouin people of Saudi Arabia and possibly Yemen, is one of only a handful of which we are aware.

The neck band is hinged and opens and closes with a sliding pin mechanism. It is decorated with applied granulation and wire work.

Twenty-three pendant chains are suspended from the lower part of the neck band. These incorporate elongated silver beads, round beads and leaf plaques, in an alternating fashion.

A related example was offered as part of lot 424 at Sotheby’s London, ‘Islamic Works of Art, Carpets and Textiles’, October 10-11, 1990. A less elaborate example is illustrated in Colyer Ross (1978, p. 30).

The collar necklace is wearable, but equally, is decorative and sculptural when displayed on a stand. There minor losses to main band, but overall, the item is in excellent condition.