ear-ring
- Museum number
- 2009,6023.180
- Description
-
A set of six pairs of small silver hoop ear-rings (halqa or hilqa), each decorated with coiled and beaded silver wire. The six pairs of ear-rings are suspended from two braided ropes of leather (three pairs on each rope). Usually worn in pairs in pierced ears by boys and girls in Northern Oman.
- Production date
- 1950s
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 3.50 centimetres (hoop (average))
-
Length: 22 centimetres (longest rope)
-
Weight: 83 grammes
- Curator's comments
- For similar examples see: Ruth Hawley, 'Silver: The Traditional Art of Oman' (London, 2000); Jehan S. Rajab, 'Silver Jewellery of Oman' (Kuwait, 1997); Neil Richardson and Marcia Dorr, 'The Craft Heritage of Oman' (Dubai, 2003); and Avelyn Forster, 'Disappearing Treasures of Oman' (Clevedon, 2000).
According to Miranda Morris, 'Simple silver hoops...were worn mainly by children, both boys and girls, until marriage. They were usually worn in pairs [on each ear], except in Sur, where boys wore a singleton ear-ring in either ear...Heavier styles of halqa were worn by married women, often hanging from the mishill head-band. These hoops were of much thicker silver, with raised, twisted wire wound around about one third of their length; at one end was soldered an ovoid bead, often with a raised central band or bands, and a bead of mulberry granulation at the tip...They usually bore a number of danglers...' Miranda Morris and Pauline Shelton, 'Oman Adorned: A Portrait in Silver' (Muscat and London, 1997), p.71.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- Fair
- Acquisition date
- 2009
- Acquisition notes
- This object is part of a collection of 20th century silver items (2009,6023.1 ff.) acquired in Oman between 1987-1995. This collection was mainly acquired in the markets of Nizwa, Mutrah and Rustaq and a small number of pieces were acquired in Sur, Wadi Bani Ouf, Bahla, Ibra and Ibri.
- Department
- Middle East
- Registration number
- 2009,6023.180