Silver - Bracelet - RARO Musammat Bracelet

Bracelet named Musammat, from the Tihama region, Yemen

Material: High-quality silver
Weight: 351 g
Internal diameter: about 7.5 cm
Total diameter: about 9.5 cm

The bracelet is adorned with equally spaced globular projections, each fixed by a ribbed collar, creating a rhythmic sequence along the circumference. At its base, a large circular medallion is applied, composed of pearled concentric borders that enclose rays and a central domed element. The surface is enlivened by fine punching and subtle texture variations, which give vibrancy to the otherwise monochromatic background.

This bracelet was worn high on the forearm or at the wrist, often as part of wedding or festive attire, where its weight and volume indicated prosperity and family status. Both in Central Asian and Yemeni traditions, heavy silver jewelry served not only as ornament but as a symbol of portable wealth, embodying both aesthetic and economic value. The bold reliefs and groups of beads of the bracelet would catch and reflect moving light, animating the wearer with flashes of brilliance.

The formal language – domed reliefs, concentric beads, and sturdy rings – draws inspiration from ancient regional metalworking traditions, in which silver was preferred for its symbolic associations with purity and protection. The radiant medallions evoke solar imagery, while the proliferation of spherical elements conveys abundance and fertility, themes deeply rooted in the ceremonial use of jewelry in these cultures.

Of monumental size and unmistakable physical presence, this rare bracelet exemplifies the enduring vitality of 20th-century jewelry making in Central Asia and Yemen, uniting sculptural form with the expressive language of traditional ornamentation.

A similar bracelet is published in "A World of Bracelets. Africa, Asia, Oceania, America" by Anne Van Cutsem