Old Tekke Turkoman Silver Niello Carnelian Jewelry/Art Islamic Prayer holder

Description

Old Tekke Turkoman prayer holder from Afghanistan or Turkmenistan. Silver niello with gilt wash. 14 cat-eye carnelians and 9 decorative danglers, far right one has a kink. The cap that encloses the prayer scroll is missing on the left side, please see photos, and is reason for lower price. Otherwise great condition with beautiful traditional design.
The
Metropolitan Museum of Art
has a nice page on Turkman jewelry.  They talk a bit about the importance of why Turkoman women value their jewelry:
“Jewelry was a significant financial investment, as it was handcrafted from precious materials. There were cases when, in times of dire need, a woman would part with her jewelry in order to help the survival of the tribe. Significant in size and weight, Turkmen jewelry objects were made of silver, decorated with semi-precious stones, and sometimes gilded for an added color effect and value.
Thanks for looking!