ANTIQUE BEDOUIN BETROTHAL SILVER BRACELET

Antique Bedouin marriage silver bracelet c1915.

These beautiful Bedouin marriage betrothal bracelets have played a huge part in Sally’s jewellery journey. While living in Cairo at the age of 21, Sally took a silversmith course in the Kahn al Khali souk. It was so unusual to see a young blond English girl in the souk at that time and consequently, her teachers were remarkably protective of her. During her time there she discovered many treasures including antique silver bracelets - many were being used to melt down to create new pieces. Sally started collecting the bracelets from that point. Many of them were made and stamped with the silver hallmark of the cat (1915) and the lotus (1930 onwards). The Bedouin people used the bracelets as a sign of betrothal, they were also used to liquidate funds during difficult times. Sally continues to sell the bracelets to this day and they have always been one of her best selling products, although they are now much rarer and harder to source.

Interestingly many girls in Kenya have grown up wearing the bracelets too.  Bedouin would trade and sell these bracelets to people traveling on ships bound for East Africa, consequently many have been handed down by parents and grandparents. They are high quality items that last a lifetime and are the heirlooms in the making.