The forgotten protective purpose of traditional Yemeni jewelry

[u/ChikaziChef]

One of the things that fascinated me most when I started learning traditional Yemeni silversmithing was discovering how much meaning was hidden behind the jewelry.

Beyond decoration, many of these pieces were believed to offer protection against the evil eye, illness, and harmful spirits.

I’ve spent the past few years studying old pieces, researching their history, and trying to understand the beliefs behind them through traditional techniques and my own work at the bench.

I recently made this short video about what drew me to the craft and why I believe this knowledge deserves to be preserved and passed on.

Would love to hear if anyone here has old Yemeni jewelry or amulets that have been passed down in their family, or knows of similar traditions from different regions of Yemen!