Subjective Value of the Traditional Silver Omani Jewellery

Abstract

Although traditional Omani jewellery is considered to be one of the invaluable crafts in the cultural heritage of the Sultanate, subjective value of the traditional Omani jewellery has been overlooked. Previous studies dealt with traditional Omani jewellery only as objects. This observation led me away from studying traditional silver Omani jewellery as objects and towards research examining the subjective value of the traditional jewellery. The aim of this research is to understand the subjective values associated with Omani traditional jewellery, based on the knowledge acquired from oral interviews with Bedouin women who are both makers and wearers of this jewellery. In this research, ethnography is based on qualitative research that uses informal semi-structured questions through snowball sampling and photo elicitation methods. Fieldwork undertaken in Oman explored the subjective values of traditional Omani jewellery and identified 14 subjective values in traditional Bedouin jewellery.

Presenters

Amal Al Ismaili
Assistant Professor, Art Education, Sultan Qaboos University, Masqat, Oman

Details

Presentation Type

Paper Presentation in a Themed Session

Theme

The Arts in Social, Political, and Community Life

KEYWORDS

VALUE, TRADITIONAL, JEWELLEY, WOMEN