The inscriptions on the trappings are as follows:
'Amal ustad Mohammed Juma, 1316 (The work of the master Mohammed Juma, 1901)'.
'Amal ustad Mohammed Juma, 1364 (The work of the master Mahammed Juma, 1944).
The first inscription was made when the set was first purchased and presented, the later inscription was probably made a the time of a later presentation. the silversmith was called Mohammed Juma, and Juma in Farsi means the day Friday, which is the Islamic holy day equivalent with the Christian Sunday. The name may be a humourous nom de plum and the silversmith may have been part of the large Jewish community that lived and worked in the Khanates at that time.

Orginally purchased as a set of parade jewellery for a horse belonging to the Afghani King's cavalry.

Horse trappings (bridle, headpiece & neckband), leather / silver / carnelian / turquoise, Mohammed Juma, Tekke Turkmen people, Turkestan, 1901.
Set of Tekke Turkmen horse jewellery comprising bridles, headpiece and neckband, made of leather with various metals, including silver and silver gilt, and gem set with turquoise and carnelian stones.
Bridle: leather straps decorated with small beaten silver and silver gilt domed, rectangular 'tablets' rivetted to the leather to form continuous bands along the upper surfaces. The ends of some straps have narrow silver bars inlaid with silver gilt arabesques applied. The various straps are connected to each other through 6 brass ring fittings each constructed with a silver gilt upper plaque mounted with collet set flat, polished carnelians, 4 circular and 1 tear dropp shaped. Irons bit with 2 large brass rings, 2 brass buckles with iron tongues.
Headpiece: mane ornament, 6 narrow leather straps, the upper surfaces covered as above with silver and silver gilt 'tablets'. A large decorative central shield holds the straps together and rests on the horse's brow. Shaped shield is [cast] and inlaid with silver and silver gilt arabesques with applied, collet set cabochon carnilians and turquoises. Two straps have small iron rings attached, all other straps with applied narrow, inlaid silver/silver gilt bars at the ends.
Neckband: 7 narrow leather straps decorated as above and held together at the centre with a fixed silver gilt bar plus 2 large decorative, shaped shields, inlaid as above. All decorated with applied collet set cabochon carnelians with similar stones applied in a decorative arrangement along the length of the piece. All straps terminate with applied narrow, inlaid silver/silver gilt bars as above. Fastening with 1 brass buckle with iron tongue (+ 1 missing). The reverse flat bar of each shield with engraved Farsi inscriptions.

Maker: Juma, Mohammed; Turkestan; 1901

Maker: Tekke people; Turkestan; 1901


User: unknown; Afghanistan

Farsi (Persian) inscriptions: 'Amal ustad Mohammed Juma 1319' (The work of master Mohammed Juma, 1901). 'Amal ustad Mohammed Juma 1364' (The work of the master Mohammed Juma, 1944).

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1901