Early Gold Plated Brass Egyptian Kirdan Bib Necklace

This is a now rare Egyptian kirdan worn by peasant and lower-middle-class women in Cairo and other Egyptian cities.  This style of jewelry is known as the "sha'abi" or popular style and was worn from the 1920s to the 1950s.  Rather than wear the expensive 21-carat gold versions, women had this brass or low silver heavily gold plated jewelry known as dahab kishra (gold plate) made as mentioned by Azza Fahmy in her book Enchanted Jewelry of Egypt.  

The necklace has design echoes from the old Pharaonic past. It is delicate and made of four link chains around the central sphynx element.  The chains are made of plates with four holes linked together. There are three heart pendants hanging from the center and sides and the necklace has small hand pendants hanging from the bottom.

The necklace closes with a hook and eye mechanism. There is a ring to fit the end of the hook to keep it safe. The bib necklace is in good condition with only minor discoloration and wear to the gold plate.

• The depth of bib is 7 cm ( 2 3/4").
• Length is 48 cm (19").
• Weight is 45.8 g.