Author
Desert Silver. Understanding traditional jewellery from the Middle East and North Africa
This full-colour book explores the context of traditional jewelry from the Middle East and North-Africa. Jewelry is more than just decoration, and plays a subtle role in everyday society as communicator, messenger and bank account. All of these aspects are discussed in the book and illustrated with rich examples, from Palestinian wedding necklaces made from fragrant cloves to the brightly enamelled bracelets of the Maghreb.
168 pages, full colour
Available with the publisher Blikveld Uitgevers Publishers here or through bol.com
For reviews, click on the book cover to the left.
These are my books and other publications in English. Scroll down for online blogposts, articles and more!
Silver & Frankincense. Scent and personal adornment in the Arab world
This book presents a unique exploration of a little-known, invisible aspect of traditional jewellery and adornment from the Arab world: scent. It delves into rituals, traditions and customs from many countries across this vast region to explore how scent is used in personal adornment. The book offers insight in the social and spiritual values of fragrance and shows many examples of material culture, from perfume jewellery to incensing devices.
140 pagina's, full colour
Available with the publisher Blikveld Uitgevers Publishers or through Oxbow Books
For a view of the book, click on the cover to the left
This is an overview of articles on silver jewellery that I have contributed to various magazines and other publications. The underlined titles are available for reading online: enjoy!
English
2020 Silver and Frankincense. The Zay Blog
2020 Wear your Fortune. The Zay Blog
2020 A powerful colour. The Zay Blog
2020 The power of henna. Arte & Lusso Magazine
2020 Where are you from? The Zay Blog
2020 Shining Stories. The Zay Blog
2020 Reading vintage jewellery from the Middle East. Arte & Lusso Magazine
2019 Egyptian zār jewellery. Ornament Magazine 41,1
2019 Living with spirits. Jewelry in the Egyptian zār, Métier Magazine International
2015 A precious heritage. Alef Magazine issue 11
2015 Of shoes and daggers: jewellery as protection. RAWI issue 07
2012 Between Fear and Fashion. HandEye 26 April 2012
2012 The Heritage of Hippie-Chic. HandEye 19 Jan 2012
2011 The origin of the iconography on Bahariya amulets: a new hypothesis. ArtWisdom
2011 Magical squares in jewelry from the Middle East. ArtWisdom
2011 Crisis? What crisis? Jewelry as investment. HandEye 22 sept 2011
2010 Oman: review of the exhibition. Adornment Magazine Vol.9
2009 Hidden treasures of Jordan: traditional silver jewellery in Amman. Adornment Magazine Vol. 8
2006 An ornamental heritage. Value of ethnic silver, in: Ornament 30, 1 (with Jolanda Bos)