Antique Long Silver Bedouin Earrings from Saudi Arabia

A very rare pair of silver Bedouin earrings or temporal adornments from Saudi Arabia. They are very long and made of a top triangular part with triangles of granulation and turquoise bead decoration. From this hang six interlinked components with star shaped plaques. The chains end in bell like pendants. The ornaments hang on either side like earrings, but rather than put through the earrings, they are hung by the hooks to the woman's headdress.

An old picture by Sebah Pascal of a woman from Mecca taken in 1875 show a similar pair of ornaments (see 5th photo).

Length is 49 cm (19"). The triangular elements are 8.5 x 5 cm (3 1/2 x 2"). Weight is 205 g.