Three silver pieces from Van, Anatolia, 19th c., includes a massive parcel gilt silver maiden's belt buckle (khamar) with a jeweled nephrite crescent above three inlaid nephrite panels, micro granulated and embossed ornaments, coral and turquoise; Two silver forehead adornments, a makhcha and knar, ornamented by foil-backed carnelians, garnets or glass, with turquoise and crescents, granulated drop fringe. Buckle 6" x 9". 797.5 gs. Provenance: From the Estate Frances Yeend, renowned American classical soprano. Note: Similar examples are on display at The Russian Museum of Ethnography and depicted in catalog "Treasures of Western Armenia", figures 147, 149, 205. The exhibition displays items collected by an expedition dispatched by Tzar Nicholas II in 1916 to rescue Van Region artifacts from imminent loss to Ottoman Empire forces during the massacre of Armenians, which began in April 1915.Ottoman Era Armenian Jewelry of Cultural and Historical Importance Armenian jewelry that pre-dates the 20th century is rare. Jewelry of this quality of jewelry is the rarest of all: The Armenian Museum in France and the Metropolitan Museum of Art have significant collections of costume and artifacts, but no jewelry of this caliber. Christie's has sold Armenian lots, but none compare. Their opulence is matched only by the pieces in the collection of the Russian Museum of Ethnography in St. Petersburg, which were collected by a decree of Tsar Nicholas II. In fact, we have three pieces identical to ones illustrated in its publication “Treasures of Western Armenia”. This collection was brought to Rago as an afterthought, a box of tribal jewelry that had been sitting in the basement for ages, thrown into the car when the consignor made the trip from Pittsburgh to show us "real" jewelry.