The Art. Yemenite Filigree. Yemenite. Silversmith. Silversmith. Yemenite. ...To design skillful creations, to work in gold and in silver.

Transcription

1 The Art of Filigree The Jewel of One Wire Silversmith...To design skillful creations, to work in gold and in silver. Exodus 1: 4 Silversmith

2 Jewry throughout their period of Diaspora, longed to return to Israel. Ben Zion David's parents wandered for two years on the roads of Yemen, from the town of Najran in the north of Yemen to the capital of Sa'ana, carrying their artistic tools with them. The art of the silversmith runs in the family s veins for eight generations. From the age of ten, Ben Zion David began to help in his father's workshop in Kiriat Ekron by preparing and weaving silver wires. The artistic secrets were passed down in the family from father to son throughout the years in Yemen. Today, very few silversmiths are actively working in this field in Israel. This art as well as other arts that were brought from Yemen are disappearing from this world. The silversmith prepared all the raw materials himself ahead of time before preparing the jewelry. For this, the silversmith used silver coins called Riyal, the currency of Yemen. Two thirds of the silversmith's time was invested in preparing the raw materials and processing the wires. The remaining third of the time was used for preparing the desired item of jewelry. Virtually all jewelry is made of filigree, which requires a variety of different tools and weaving with various diameter sized silver wires. Artisan Artisan

3 Production Preparation Production Silver coins, heated to melting point were placed in special earthenware receptacles (bhuta). The molten silver was then transferred to a grooved plate (mifrag). Afterwards, 1 the silversmith would pound the Mifrag Rod Forming Plate 5 hardened silver rods on a heavy anvil (si flah) with a big hammer (matraga). The forged silver could then be drawn through the holes of the drawplate (tzer fah), thus forming ready wires of different diameters. Matraga Large Hammer Preparation Maj ara - Pliers Production 4 Preparation Bhuta Receptacle for molten silver Tzer fah Drawplate 8 Production Preparation

4 Process Creative Creative After preparing the wires in different diameters, the silversmith would process every wire according to his needs. of options on the garlah. By hammering the silver wires fitted in the groove, the decorations were imprinted on the wire. Process Mazwi M challph To prepare the mazwi, the M challph is a silver wire silversmith would divide a silver manipulated to a repetitive wave wire and connect the ends to a pattern that is made from a twisted tool with a metal hook attached wire (hallph) or from a flattened to a piece of cloth (mabramah). wire. To create the wave, the One wire (sahber) was created by silversmith would use a short twisting clockwise and another stick of wood with two metal pins 6 wire (hallph) was created by extended from the flat end. twisting counter clockwise. A braid Creative Process was formed by placing both wires side by side. M dakah To prepare the m dakah, the silversmith would coil a wire on a silver bar, creating a spring. With gentle hammering, the coil was flattened to create the m dakah. Magrool A magrool is a wire embossed with different designs. A sample shape was chosen from a variety Lama ah Lama ah is a diamond shaped decoration. To prepare this shape, the silversmith would flatten the silver wire with a hammer and cut with special scissors (jahz) to the desired proportions. Masbuah The masbuah is a flower shape made of seven silver balls soldered together. The balls were made by cutting equal units of silver wire and melting them into balls. Creative Process

5 Ring Ring 4. After the wires are soldered together as one unit, the metal 6 8 binding wire is removed. 9 Ring 1 4 Maduar A ring Wires to prepare the ring Two magrool One m dakah, hallph, sahber A pair of mazwi 1. The silversmith places the wires side by side according to a fitted order.. With a thin metal wire, the fitted silver wires are bound together.. By sprinkling silver powder ( daroor ) on the backside, the item is then soldered with a torch ( sraj ) 5. The flat band is then cut to the desired ring size. 6. The flattened band is then shaped into a ring and strengthened and the edges soldered.. By placing the ring onto a conus bar, the ring is straightened and then polished. 8. It is possible to add masbuah bordered by two Lama ahs as decoration 5 8 Ring

6 Pendant Pendant 1. The silversmith creates three circles in the desired diameters with flattened wire.. The mazwi and m chalaf wires 1 are created to correspond in size 5 with the three circles.. Each wire is cut to the required length and with tweezers (milgat) each wavy wire is bent end to end thus creating a flower. 4. Each flower is fit into its 6 matching circle set with a 10 centered silver ball and soldered 11 Pendant 4 Najim A pendant Wires to prepare the pendant One mazwi sahber flattened wire A round wire A flattened round wire A half round wire together. 5. The bale is created by cutting a 4mm length flattened wire and bending it evenly in half, fitting it on a metal bar and pulling to the desired size loop. 6. Fitting the bale on the small part.. Soldering. 8. The connecting rings are cut from a round wire, bent into a half moon shape, placed between the flowers and soldered. 8 Pendant

7 Earring Earring 1. The silversmith creates a drop shaped loop with a flattened wire.. By placing it on a steel bar, the loop is perfected into a drop shape and pulled to one side.. The mazwi sahber wire is then rolled creating a flat coil. 4. The coil is then pinched at one side forming a drop shape corresponding in size to the loop frame created previously. 5. The loop and coil are soldered 1 1 together creating the goort. Earring 1 4 Hruss An earring Wires to prepare the earring One mazwi sahber flattened wire Round wire Flattened round wire Semi precious stone beads 6. The top link on the earring is created by cutting a flattened wire and bending it in half, fitting it on a metal bar, pulling to the desired size and soldering to the goort.. The flattened masbuah is then soldered to the center of the goort. 8. With the round wire, a hook is created and all parts are attached together Earring

8 Treasures Treasures Treasures Treasures

9 Silversmith Art, Ltd. Mazal Dagim St. Old Jaffa , Silversmith