Three large amulet cases, made to house small-format Qur'an or surahs from the Qur'an. Uzbekistan and the Caucasus, [early 20th century].
Silver, repoussé and engraved; filigree, granulation, and niello; turquoise stones and beads.
1. Elegant amulet case. [Tashkent or Samarkand]. With vegetal and geometric patterns, some in niello, with Arabic inscriptions, and set with small turquoise stones. Dated (on cover) 1335 (= 1917 CE) according to the Muslim calendar. Missing stones.
2. Amulet case decorated with gilt crescents. Dated (on plaque on front) 1330 (= 1912 CE) according to the Muslim calendar. With hinges with removable pins on either side.
3. Thin amulet case, decorated on front with niello and with vegetal patterns. Medallion (niello) on back, with Arabic inscription, and dated 1327 (= 1909 CE) according to the Muslim calendar. Cover missing.
Average size: 10X8 cm.

Collection of pieces of jewelry. Kurdistan (Iran-Iraq) / Afghanistan, [early 20th century].
Silver; enamel; gemstones and glass beads; other beads.
1. Beaded necklace. [Kurdistan]. Chain composed of flower-shaped links, with each link consisting of four small rings. Suspended from the chain are bells; three pendants shaped like stylized, three-dimensional half-moons (or baskets), open in their upper parts; beads; small pendants; and glass beads with star-and-crescent symbols. 35X15 cm.
2-3. Two three-dimensional pendants, open in their upper or rear parts. [Kurdistan? Iran? Afghanistan?]. Larger pendant decorated with flowers and with blue and green enamel ornaments (open on rear side). Smaller pendant with vegetal patterns and set with turquoise stone and glass bead. 8X6.5 cm; 6.5X6 cm. Turquoise stone missing.
4. Head ornament or necklace. [Kurdistan-Iraq]. Chain composed of flower-shaped links, with each link consisting of four small rings. Suspended from the chain are Ottoman coins, bells, coral beads, and a droplet-shaped pendant with the image of a human face. 45X5.5 cm.
Reference: Arab and Islamic Silver, pp. 138-41.

Elegant "shokila" forehead or temple ornament. Uzbekistan (Xorazm [Khorezm]), [late 19th century].
Silver, gilt, repoussé; sheet silver, gilt, punched; gemstones; glass.
Ornament consists of droplet-like shapes ("boteh" or paisley) adorned with gemstones and glass beads. Suspended from the bottom are chains with pendants, set or inlaid with coral beads and turquoise stones.
Ornaments such as these were part of a combined set that included head and chest ornaments (pectorals) worn by women in the Xorazm (Khorezm) region of Uzbekistan. The term "shokila" relates both to this specific head ornament and to the entire set of ornaments.
Approx. 17X12 cm. Minor blemishes.
Reference: Later Islamic Jewellery, item no. 166.

Pair of "gadzhak" or "gajak" temple pendants. Uzbekistan (Tashkent or Samarkand), [late 19th century].
Silver (parcel gilt); silver thread and granulation; gemstones and glass beads.
Two delicate temple ornaments, inlaid with turquoise stones and glass beads.
5.5X7 cm. Few missing stones.
Reference: Later Islamic Jewellery, item no. 169.

Three pieces of ethnic jewelry. The Caucasus / Central Asia [late 19th or early 20th century].
Silver, silver thread and granulation; niello; bead.
1. [The Caucasus or Bukhara, Uzbekistan]. Long, elegant pin (probably for head ornament) surmounted by a round ornament with a serrated rim, decorated in silver thread and granulation, and with a reddish bead inlaid in its center. Suspended from the large ornament are two chains, each with three smaller, identical pendants, with Russian and Islamic silver coins, and at the ends, with decorative hooks. Approx. 22X10 cm.
2. [The Caucasus]. Large silver bracelet, somewhat twisted, with niello decorations. Approx. 7.5X3.5 cm.
3. [The Caucasus]. Pair of head ornaments/earrings, decorated with silver thread and niello, with suspended chains with leaf-shaped pendants at the ends. Decorations also engraved onto their backs. 15X6.5 cm.