Italian silver outshines Yemeni silver

Each piece has a signature style.

Recently, Italian silver was introduced to the Yemeni market, reducing the popularity of local silver jewelry. The modern forms used by Italian silversmiths attract customers who seem to be bored with the traditional Yemeni pieces. “The absence of educated Yemenis is the reason behind the decline in the popularity of Yemeni silver,” said Samir al-Mahtami, the owner of al-Mahtami Silver Shop.

Yemeni silver jewelry is produced in Yemeni village, where traditional silver jewelry has more value than it does in urban areas, said al-Mahtami. Despite the modern shapes of the Italian silver, Yemeni silver jewelry is unique, he said. Tihami silver pieces are distinguished by intricate embroideries and holes made by a machine called al-Miskala. Sana’ani silver is decorated and welded in a unique way, making it distinguishable from all other kinds of silver jewelry.

Al-Mahtami believes the reason Yemeni silver is losing popularity is that people are tired of the rustic look. Silversmiths in cities just polish the silver they buy from villages without retouching imperfections because of the retouching jewelry by hand significantly increases the cost, he said. “Normally, we sell a gram of silver for YR 200, but if we reshape the Yemeni silver, we raise the price to about YR 500, so nobody will buy them.”

Al-Tihami believes that Yemeni silver is the best in the world. “If someone thinks about what it means that these ancient silver pieces are handmade and you can practically smell the history of the ancient Yemenis who have worn these pieces. You don’t feel that you buy a mere silver piece but you almost buy an antiquity.”

The quality of Yemeni silver work is not the only thing that makes it unique. “The silver often incorporates Yemeni agate,” he said. Yemeni agate is most known for its beautiful colors. In some cases, the agate pieces reach YR 10,000 and are collected from far away villages, such as Anes, Ans, and Nih.

“I like everything old.” said Ahmed No’man, the manager of a travel agency in Sana’a. “Yemeni silver jewelry is old and more related to our tradition and history, so we have to preserve this legacy.” No’man prefers to buy the old Yemeni silver pieces rather the modern Italian ones. He thinks that these silver works hold Yemeni history. “I bought a YR 50,000 jambia embroidered with silver. It’s the very traditional appearance that I like so much.”

Traditional Yemeni silver pieces are falling out of favor with locals.

Sawsan Saleh, a student at Sana’a University agreed with No’man. “I prefer the pieces that are part of Yemen’s heritage, particularly the Yemeni silver pieces,” she said. “Whomever wears these silver pieces has a part of Yemen’s spirit.” However, Saleh does not deny that the new modern silver works have caught her eye before. “But the modern silver work is like new accessories. The traditional silver works look prettier and unique, particularly at weddings.”     

On the other hand, there are some young people who see no difference between modern and traditional silver works. They think that both modern and old silver will keep their prices and the modern jewelry, with the fast speed of development and change, will become a part of the heritage as well.
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“I see no different between old and modern silver as long as both hold their value,” said Manal Ameen, a nurse. Ameen likes the modern shapes because they are more popular now, but she doesn’t like to wear them. “I hang them in my room but I don’t wear them.”

“In Islam, men are forbidden to wear gold,” said Mohamed Ali, an employee. “So I wear silver no matter what they are—modern or old.” Ali feels that the old Yemeni silver has a special spirit, but they are not as popular.

“I don’t like to wear the old silver,” said Maram Ahmed, 20, a student. “Not because I don’t like it, but I prefer to wear the modern things.” She likes gold but it is too expensive for her, so she buys modern silver jewelry. “The Italian silver keeps its price and it’s not as heavy as traditional Yemeni silver pieces,” she said “I could wear the old silver, if it sparkled more and if it were not so heavy.”
 
“I don’t like at all the old silver,”said Samar Ameen, a student. She thinks Yemeni silver is uncomfortable to wear because of its bulkiness. “When I see these women wearing traditional silver jewelry, I think they feel like they have to wear them as Yemenis.”

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