EFL
Silver was traditionally a source of power for Yemenis, especially women who regarded it as insurance against calamity. In a society where women have always dressed modestly, silver jewelry was a way to attract male attention. Men gave their wives silver dowries and a woman’s worth was indicated by the amount of silver she possessed. The decline of Yemen’s silver market began in the last century with the exodus of the country’s Jewish artisans who accounted for 80 percent of the silversmiths. About 3,000 Jews left to settle in Israel in the 1950s, depriving Yemen of one of its most renowned traditions. Modern silversmiths such as Ahmed Lotf, who works at Sanaa’s famous Ghamdan Palace, bemoan their departure, saying their fine filigree work was far superior to their modern Muslim counterparts. "The Jews were the best and their work fetches a lot of money. Today’s artisans are not as interested as they hardly get enough money for their work," he said.
Most of the wares now on display in Sanaa’s market come from tribesmen who sell the family silver to make ends meet. Others are modern replicas lacking the finesse of ancient handicrafts. "Many silversmiths have moved into clothing retail because it makes more money. If only we had more buyers, then the industry would boom again," said Ibrahim Aslaan, who runs the family store in Sanaa. Yemen’s top tourism official agrees. "All of Yemen’s artisans are suffering due to the slump in tourism," said Mutahar Taqi, chairman of the General Authority for Tourism Development. "We can only hope that things start to look up so we can keep our heritage and culture alive."
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