Yemeni bridal kamea case

This amulet (kamea) was part of the Yemeni Jewish bride's adornment, worn during the wedding ceremony to protect her during a period considered vulnerable to harmful influences. It could contain or bear divine names and protective formulas. Jewish goldsmithing in Yemen, renowned for its mastery of filigree and granulation, ornamented it with tinkling pendants and engraved cylinders, integrated into the bride's abundant set of silver jewelry. This object illustrates the combination, in Yemeni Jewish material culture, of the protective function and ornamental richness of bridal adornments.