Silver - Bracelet - RARO Musammat Bracelet

Bracelet called Musammat, originating from the Tihama region, Yemen

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

The bracelet is adorned with evenly spaced globular projections, each fixed by a ribbed collar, creating a rhythmic sequence around the circumference. At its base, a large circular medallion is applied, composed of pearl-bordered concentric rims that enclose rays and a central domed element. The surface is enlivened by delicate punch work and fine texture variations, which give vitality to the otherwise monochromatic background.

This bracelet was worn high on the forearm or on the wrist, often as part of wedding or party attire, where its weight and volume indicated prosperity and family status. In both Central Asian and Yemeni tradition, 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 the groups of beads on the bracelet would catch and reflect moving light, animating the wearer with flashes of brilliance.

The formal language—domed reliefs, concentric beads, and sturdy circles—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 tactile presence, this rare bracelet exemplifies the enduring vitality of 20th-century jewelry making in Central Asia and Yemen, combining 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