Head ornament - Bridal veil - Yemen - Bedouin face veil

Traditional Bedouin face veil from probably Yemen – coins, pendants and bells – 20th century

Special traditional face veil, also called burquʿ, presumably originating from Yemen or the adjacent Arab region.

The textile base is richly decorated with coins bearing Arabic script, triangular ornaments with colored inlays, diamond-shaped pendants, chains, beads and bells. The whole shows manual craftsmanship and clear signs of use.

Preliminary dating: first half to mid-20th century. Some coins appear Ottoman; at least one specimen seems to be a 10 para of Sultan Mehmed V, a coin type that was produced in nickel. The remaining metal decoration may be partly silver or a silver alloy. The metal content has not been tested and is not guaranteed.

In worn condition, with wear, fraying, loose threads, local damage and repairs to the textile. The