1
A long gold necklace, which began the size of a palm and then started to cover the chest. Later pearls were added.
© National Museum of Qatar
20th century
Object Name: Necklace / Local name : Mertaasha
Period: 20th century
Date: 1900-1999
Provenance: Qatar
Dimensions: 65cmx27cmx7.5mm
Medium: gold,gemstone,cotton
Registration Number: QNM.2011.708.1
Place Of Discovery/Findspot:  Qatar
2
Women's jewelry - a long choker necklace made of 11 wafer shapes. 11 wafer shaped plates studded with pink and green glass stones. The long chains terminate in a tear-drop shaped plate with a crescent. It is a modern development from the original mirtha’sha, which was made of silver and much shorter. This necklace is unusually long, to show off status of the bride and the wealth of her future husband. This would have been worn with other necklaces for the wedding day, perhaps for the henna night the bride would wear only this piece. The bride would stay still through most of the celebrations, and this necklace would have covered her lap. The name means 'shaking' because of the noise the necklace makes when the wearer moves.
The murta'ishah got its name from the Arabic word yartaish, to shiver because its chains quiver with the movement of the wearer. It is relatively small when compared to old, traditional necklaces of a similar kind and is worn tied around the neck like a choker. Some examples of this ornament were as small as the palm of the hand; modern ones, called al-nathrah are long and reach to the waist. The chains of the murta'ishah are called marasil. There are similar pieces to this example in the Qatar National Museum collection. Other modern types are studded with pearls.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT QATAR
The Qatar Peninsula is surrounded by sea except in the south where it connects with its neighbours from the Arabian Peninsula. For hundreds of years people have shared the land, resources and knowledge inherited from their environment. With no fixed lifestyle in terms of time and place, people moved easily and freely between land and sea for trade, livestock, pearl diving, fishing, and hunting at various times throughout the year. This symbiotic relationship between the people and their environment was represented in the unity of their societies, including the exchange of knowledge, stories and the trading of available goods.

A distinctive characteristic of life on the Qatar Peninsula has long been the close association between the coast and the desert – al barr. Some desert tribes spent several months of the year in coastal cities, setting up semi-permanent residences to participate in pearl diving or fishing. Similarly, coastal residents occasionally moved to al barr during the winter to graze their livestock. This exchange of natural resources and the influence of different environments has contributed to the creation of a unique community.
HISTORICAL CONTEXT - REGION/GULF/WORLD
The presence of British, French and Dutch trading companies in the Gulf from the early 1600s brought uncertainty to the region, with unstable alliances and intense competition over trade routes. As trade flourished, however, the strength of the Arab tribes increased. Many Arab tribes moved from the interior of the Arabian Peninsula to Qatar, and by the 18th and 19th centuries, most of the major towns of the Gulf were founded. Several towns flourished on the Qatari coast, including Huwailah, Khor Hassan, Fuwairat, Ruwaida, Freiha, Al Bidda and Doha. The most notable was Al Zubara which became a hub for the Gulf pearl trade.
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
Ismael, Najla. gold and pearls in qatari jewelleries [NMoQ report]
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Qatar
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Gallery 7