Hello Hans,
A "handmade suspension eye of glass" IS its perforation.
If we consult Peter Francis' booklet, "Third World Beadmakers," he ties-together the modern Eastern Mediterranean glass-beadmakers as being familially related to each other--and as having made similar products.
Unfortunately, my copy is not at-hand, so I cannot quote his remarks.
Viewing your piece, I would say it is probably a local attempt at copying a molded Czech Hajj pendant, and could have been made in Turkey, Palestine, or Egypt. Not to exclude Tashkent. If it was found in Yemen, one might think that Hebron, Palestine, was a likely point of origin. However, Yemen has been a nexus for Hajj souvenirs for a very long time, including the Czech versions. So I suppose its placement in Yemen is not compelling as to a possible origin.
JDA.
Hi Jamey, thanx for mentioning Peter Francis "Third world Beadmakers". I've dug up my copy and it was enlightening to read again. Unfortunally I could not find info on Tashkent in P.F.Jr's booklet. Is there a relation on glass with Bokhara/Samarkand? I don't remember reading about this. My best guess at the moment is that the pendant was made in Hebron, what you mentioned before. Thanx again Hans
Tashkent is probably just a location where Bokhara-made beads are offered for sale.
They only enter the discussion because they are often similar-in-appearance, because they are also simple furnace-wound glass beads.
Also, I have seen more-recent beads attributed to the region, that were rather more-well-made. So perhaps these very obscure beads persist and are improved. By the time I saw the online offering, the beads were taken.
I found this Austrian example listed for sale on ebay.
Rare Bohemia Glass Pendent in the Form of a Muslim Tawis Early 20th c.
Description
Bohemia was always ready to reproduce in glass ethnic ornaments, European, as well as African or Asian,to replace the real objects. ,done in more expensive materials .
This pressed pendent is made as an imitation of the Persian tawis, habitually in cornelian and hand carved.
It can be dated around 1910.
Size:
Length: 34mm.
Width: 42mm.
Thickness: 4mm.
That’s a big one, thank you for showing.
We have these three samples in our Museum, same size but confusing about the maker.
The green said made in Austria.
the other cobalt and clear said" mad cechoslov" on one Side and "Hassi alla"on the other" .
JP
