HvWO 093III

An empty silver thorn tweezer holder in the shape of a 16th cent gun

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Tweezer

Common Omani silver manqash. Omani men are not supposed to wear jewelry, however they are allowed to wear weapons, hence weapons were adorned to become a form of jewelry!  An empty silver tweezer holder in the shape of a 16th cent gun

 

 

 Antique Omani silver tweezer

Arab Name:  Manqash (Ref 2: Carter)

Period: 1850-1900

Origin: Oman. probably Sur.

References:

  1. Oman Adorned by Pauline Shelton Robert Richmond / Apex London 1997 p 193
  2. Carter Tribes in Oman p 168
  3. Silver jewellery of Oman by Jehan S Rajab 1997 p17
  4. Traditional silver jewelry and handicrafts from Oman 2009 by Jean Greffioz p 139
  5. British Museum has similar item in their on-line collection number 2009, 6023.206; Weight: 10 grammes; Length: 4 centimetres (container) Small silver bullet-shaped container attached to a silver ring. Probably once part of a set of portable tweezers and picks (menqash or munqash) for men. The tweezers and picks would have hung from chains and were usually worn by a man on his belt. The bullet-shaped container is decorated with silver granulation and the top of the ring is formed from coiled silver wire.
  6. Oman and its Renaissance  by Sir Donald Hawley Stacey International London 1987 page 139 photo with similar item
  7. Wereld Museum Rotterdam has a similar item. 11 x d 2,5 cm l 10 x d 1,5 cm (pincet & priem). Inventory CIC-2001/156. Ex collection M. Wark