Silver Cuff Bracelet with Arabesque Carvings and Town Scene

Jewelry

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L.T. Jordan Institute for International Awareness

Silver cuff bracelet given to Mrs. Jessie Jordan by her husband, Mr. L.T. Jordan.: Up close image of the silver cuff bracelet with Arabesque carvings and small Arab-looking town scene. The cuff has a cut out leaf pattern.
Silver cuff bracelet given to Mrs. Jessie Jordan by her husband, Mr. L.T. Jordan.

Up close image of the silver cuff bracelet with Arabesque carvings and small Arab-looking town scene. The cuff has a cut out leaf pattern.

Name/Title

Silver Cuff Bracelet with Arabesque Carvings and Town Scene

Entry/Object ID

JI2025000301

Description

Silver cuff bracelet with Arabesque carvings and small Arab-looking town scene. According to Mrs. Jessie Jordan, the bracelet and matching belt were made by silversmiths in Amarah, Iraq. The design is early to mid-20th century and was more likely made in Baghdad, Iraq, by Mandaean silversmiths using niello; their designs were commonly called “work of Amara.” Niello is black metallic alloy of sulfur mixed with silver, copper, or lead that can be used to fill designs that have been engraved into the surface of a metal, usually silver, object. Many artisans who use niello originated from Amarah, Iraq, hence the phrase “work of Amara.” Amarah is about 50 kilometer, or 31 miles, south of Baghdad on the Tigris River.

Context

The bracelet was a gift from Mr. L.T. Jordan to Mrs. Jessie Jordan.

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Country

Kuwait

Continent

Asia