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Silver Omani Ghalamiyat earrings
Two scarce pairs of scarce of Ghalamiyat earrings. The earrings are of an ancient design. With 2 shapes of finials: rectangular and leaf shaped / tear drop. The leaf / tear-drop shaped finials are rare and the rectangular finials are common. For the leaf / tear-drop shaped version see Omani Silver Ruth Hawley 1978 section on earrings. Total weight 460 grams. 46 cm long. Rectangular finial: 6 cm leaf shaped finial 4 cm Individual earrings are approx 11 cm long and weigh approx 50-58 grams. Pair of silver earrings (ghalamiyat) consisting of a large ovoid bead with a raised central band decorated with silver bosses. The ovoid bead is further ornamented with beaded and twisted silver wire wrapped around its circumference. A pyramid of silver balls ending with a bead of mulberry granulation hangs from the bottom tip of the ovoid bead. Soldered to the top is a plain round silver hook. These earrings are too heavy to be hung from pierced earlobes. Rather, for everyday wear they are hung from a loop of leather (shinag) which went right around the ear. For special occasions, the earrings are hooked from the loops of a silver head-strap (mishill)
Arab names: Ghalamiyat / Galamiyat (Earrrings) Period: 1850-1950 Origin:Worn by Omani women in Central and Northern Oman |
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References:
- Oman Adorned by Pauline Shelton Robert Richmond Miranda Morris / Apex London 1997 p 165
- Omani Silver Ruth Hawley 1978 section earrings (no pagination)
- Craft heritage of Oman Neil Richardson & Maria Dorr Part two p 438 fig 17 p 439 fig 23
- Disappearing treasures of Oman 1998 by Avelyn Foster p 58 fig 49 ; Traditional silver jewelry and handicrafts from Oman 2009 by Jean Greffioz 36
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British Museum on-line collection number 2009,6023.174-175 has the same earrings length 11 cm Weight 57 and 58 grams. Pair of silver earrings (ghalamiyat) consisting of a large ovoid bead with a raised central band decorated with silver bosses. The ovoid bead is further ornamented with beaded and twisted silver wire wrapped around its circumference. A pyramid of silver balls ending with a bead of mulberry granulation hangs from the bottom tip of the ovoid bead. Soldered to the top is a plain round silver hook. These earrings are too heavy to be hung from pierced earlobes. Rather, for everyday wear they are hung from a loop of leather (shinag) which went right around the ear. For special occasions, the earrings are hooked from the loops of a silver head-strap (mishill, see for example 2009,6023.186-187) Worn by the Bedouin women of Central Oman
- British Museum also has similar chains ref 2009,6023.186-187 length 35,5 and 37,5 cm A pair of silver head-bands or head-chains (mishill, literally 'support') used to support heavy ear-rings or ear pendants (ghalamiyyah). Each head-chain is made of six strands of box-chains (three on each side, which are connected in the centre by a fastener made of three soldered figure-of-eight loops) On one end of the head-chain is a large silver hoop, used to suspend an ear-ring, and a tear-drop shaped pendant acts as a decorative counterweight on the other end. The tear-drop is decorated with beaded wire. Worn by Bedouin women in Northern and Central Oman
- Islamic Art in Oman page 347
- Oman and its Renaissance by Sir Donald Hawley Stacey International London 1987 page 138 photo similar earrings
- Traditional silver jewelry and handicrafts from Oman by Jean Greffioz 2009 (privately published) page 36 fig 3.4 has photo with a similar item.
- The Heritage of Oman by Peter Vine Immel Publishing 1995 page 56 example of a similar prehistoric silver earring found in Oman
- Oman Faces and places, articles from PDO News magazine 2009 page 14 photo of a similar prehistoric earring found in Oman
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