Nielloware hair barrette in sterling silver that features Mekkala. Circa 1938. Made in SIAM. Thailand
SKU:
SS10046
$49.95
$49.95
per item
A classic Nielloware hair barrette in sterling silver that features Mekkala, the graceful Siamese goddess of lightening.
Condition: Excellent estate condition from the 1930s from old Siam.
Metal: Sterling Silver & niello
Weight: 8.1g
Measurements: 2in long
Niello is a black metallic alloy of sulfur, copper, silver, and usually lead used as an inlay on engraved metal. It can be used for filling in designs cut from metal. The Egyptians are credited with originating niello decoration, which spread throughout Europe during the late Iron Age and is common in Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and mother types of Early Medieval jewelry.
Nielloware jewelry and related items from Thailand (Formerly known as Siam) were popular gifts from American soldiers taking "R&R" in Thailand to their girlfriends/wives back home from the late 1930s to the 1970s.
Most of it was completely handmade jewelry. Filigree was often used for additional ornamentation. Nielloware is classified as only being black, blue, and silver colored.
Many of the characters shown in nielloware are characters originally found in the Hindu legend Ramayana. The Thai version is called Ramakien. Important Thai cultural symbols were also frequently used.
Condition: Excellent estate condition from the 1930s from old Siam.
Metal: Sterling Silver & niello
Weight: 8.1g
Measurements: 2in long
Niello is a black metallic alloy of sulfur, copper, silver, and usually lead used as an inlay on engraved metal. It can be used for filling in designs cut from metal. The Egyptians are credited with originating niello decoration, which spread throughout Europe during the late Iron Age and is common in Anglo-Saxon, Celtic, and mother types of Early Medieval jewelry.
Nielloware jewelry and related items from Thailand (Formerly known as Siam) were popular gifts from American soldiers taking "R&R" in Thailand to their girlfriends/wives back home from the late 1930s to the 1970s.
Most of it was completely handmade jewelry. Filigree was often used for additional ornamentation. Nielloware is classified as only being black, blue, and silver colored.
Many of the characters shown in nielloware are characters originally found in the Hindu legend Ramayana. The Thai version is called Ramakien. Important Thai cultural symbols were also frequently used.
1 available