Turkoman (Yomud) gilded necklace, Central Asia

Big Yomud necklace, made of gilded high grade silver and glass cabochons.

The Yomud have developed a series of breastplates, which are mostly worn on chains around the neck and all seem to be influenced by bird symbolism. The two bird heads on the left and right of the plate each hold a coin on a ring in their beaks; there are pieces on which the bird heads are more clearly recognizable.

From the first half of the 20th century.

Provenance: European private collection.

Dimensions:

Total length approx: 105 cm
Central pendant: with “coins”: 13,5 x 13 cm

Weight: 297,2 gr

Literature:

“Schmuck aus Zentralasien”, Prokot, Inge and Joachim  Callwey, Verlag München, 1981, p. 75
“Der Turkmenenschmuck”, Rudolph, Hermann, Museum für Völkerkunde, 1984, p. 200
“The arts and crafts of Turkestan”, Kalter, Johannes, Thames and Hudson, 1983, p. 99
“Old silver jewellery of the Turkoman”, Schletzer, Dietrich Reimer Verlag, 1984, p. 150
“Ethnic jewellery from Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands”,  The pepin Press, 2002, p. 82
“Ethnic jewellery and adornment” Daalder, Truus, Ethnic Art Press, 2009, p. 151