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Bridal Accessories

Jewellery has been a traditional part of the marriage ceremony since talmudic times. During the ceremony the groom places a ring on the finger of the bride to seal the marriage. Besides the wedding ring, the bride used to receive jewellery and clothes from the Jewish community in the name of the groom. Today, this tradition can be considered to have evolved into non-religious customs such as bridal showers, and pre-delivered wedding gifts.

Necklace
This large silver necklace is Yemenite in origin. It closes in the back by a clasp attached to two short chains. The chains are attached to a triangle with a cut off top on each side. The surface of these large triangles is decorated with silver and clear jewels in circular, triangular, diamond, and non-specific flower shapes. These designs follow the angle of the side edges of the triangles. The designs, which consists of spaced circles, inside these side borders appear less linear but still follow the pattern. The patterns and decorations are similar to those on triangles. Rings attach hanging decorations to each of the three rectangles. The rings each attach to a cylindrical and horizontal, decorated bar that is capped at both ends by an open half sphere made up of thin wires of silver leading to a ball point at the peak. Hanging off of each of these three bars are four rings which each hold a doubled up chain. Each of the ends of these chains a bound with a decorative cap. And so, the effect is that the three bars each appear to support eight hanging chains.

Ring This silver betrothal ring was hand crafted in Eastern Europe. It was the ring placed on the bride during the wedding ceremony. It used to be that if the groom could not afford to purchase a ring the city would lend out the ring for the ceremony. The ring is large, and is decorated with a depiction of the Temple in Jerusalem consisting of one main building and two attached towers. The miniature interpretation of the Temple, whose size is huge for a ring, sits on a platform on top of a type of bowl. Following the same principals as a locket, the Temple part of the ring and the base it sits on may lift up to allow something to be stored in the bowl area.

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