Hi
I would love some help in identifying the makers mark in this piece? It’s stamped 1000 - I know this is not a maker’s mark but I’m also unsure if it really means solid silver (I know 925 is 925 parts in 1000). I’ve been told that solid silver is too soft to work with - it is easily bent. Then I thought maybe it was an old coin cuff? Totally unsure! Anyone any ideas?
Many thanks
Michelle xv
Hi Michelle!
This is a neat piece. But it is not Native American. Yes, is is 1000 silver, and it is a very soft metal. NA jewelry artists don’t use 1000 silver, and we wouldn’t consider this style to be Native American.
With that being said, very few countries use 1000 silver. Japan was a predominant user of 1000 silver, and I own a filigree locket from Greece that is marked 1000 as well. Perhaps try searching for countries that have used 1000 silver. I belive that this bracelet is likely middle eastern. I also think the turquoise beads are actually glass. If you look at them under a jeweler’s loupe, the presence of tiny bubbles will confirm this. From your picture, the uniformity of the color and surface texture lead me to think they are glass.
Hi
Thank you! I bought it thinking it may be Native American but had my suspicions. I hadn’t thought of Middle Eastern but it definitely ties in more with the design.
I’m going to do some more research as you suggest - thanks for replying. M x
Hi all
Despite doing a bit more research I’m still at a loss regarding this one. A jeweller friend has tested the cuff as ‘fine silver’ at 99.9% and said that he thinks it’s about 100ish years old. He said it’s incredibly soft (you can tell this anyway as it’s very bendy).
He looked through a loupe and said definitely fine Turquoise - he noted ‘scratches and dents with faint brown matrix on a couple of stones but no bubbles’ - he said it must have been made for someone important and it would have been expensive as each stone is very similar to the next - he thinks two of the stones have been replaced at some point as they are slightly smaller with one lighter than the rest and the other a lot darker. I can’t seem to find any countries that used a lot of solid silver, except Greece and I’m not sure this cuff matches that. I’m still inclined towards Middle Eastern as suggested but haven’t got any further which is frustrating!
Anyway I’m unable to sell it on my site as I sell NA and Southwestern - so it looks like it’s mine to keep!
Thanks for all your help - Michelle x x
Could you check with Antiques Roadshow or some of the bigger antique auction sites?
Would of thought these stone were glass. Cool find! Try researching as Tibetan or Nepalese. I would lean more towards Tibetan. Could you give us a mico close-up of the stones? I would be very interested in seeing them. Thanks -
Hi
Thank you so much for getting back to me - I’m going to take it to a great place called Battlesbridge Antiques - it’s a huge collection of independent sellers and antique dealers in a few old barns (any excuse to go there!).
I’ve done my best with the close up shots but I’m not very good! I’m still suspicious about the stones - they just seem too uniform in colour.
I’ll let you guys know what I can discover and thanks again for the help x x
Came across a MATL jewelry search and thought of your piece, Sara
Hi
That’s a real eye opener!! I wonder if she ever used fine silver - I’ll have to do some digging.
Thanks for the info.
Xxxxx
