Middle Eastern Filästin (Palestine) - Wiqäyät äl-Därähim Headdress

The Wiqäyät äl-Därähim (وِقَايَة الْدَرَاهِم), “Protection of the Dirham,” is a headdress worn in Filästin (Palestine) that is typically composed of tightly packed rows of coins, beads, charms, and pendants. The value of the coins themselves depended on the agreed upon dowry of the bride. And the headdress varied regionally in embroidery, shape, material, and coin arrangement. The ornamentation of the headdress was meant to shield the bride from the Evil Eye.

This is the first one that I have seen with a large head size, or at least, it looks that way to me. Usually, Palestinian headdresses (that I’ve seen) have smaller head sizes. I don’t think any of the coins are silver and I suspect it may have been repaired at some point.

This item is located in our American depot, which ships from the U.S.A.