Central American? Mexican? large silver pendant

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by NaptownFTW, Aug 1, 2020.

  1. NaptownFTW

    NaptownFTW Active Member

    I picked up this estate piece this week. Tests as silver, with no hallmarks I can find. The figure is hollow and soldered together in halves. I am guessing the animals are an ocelot (or jaguar) and a tapir or something along those lines. The back is definitely shinier than front due to being worn. The main stone (it’s not jade) seems to be drilled though long-ways; one hole is visible, but my pin stopped in the middle.

    Measures about 2-1/2” tall by 3-1/2” wide. It feels Central American, or maybe further north? Anyone able to make a more educated guess on its origin?

    C27152CE-9D80-497C-9D4D-440828C44B71.jpeg 89C5A248-1565-4258-A340-041FE07F5EEC.jpeg FB41698C-DDCC-44FC-BF3B-AB4EC4734B61.jpeg
     
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  2. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    From those ears, the big animal looks more like a lamb to me.....except that is for the long tail.....wait for other to chime in who probably know more!! Kinda neat......I like it!!!
     
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  3. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    kyratango, i need help and Aquitaine like this.
  4. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    i need help likes this.
  5. reader

    reader Well-Known Member

    It looks Asian to me. Interesting piece. Wait for @Any Jewelry

    Coral and something!
     
  6. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Same here. The coral looks Tibetan-style or Chinese but the metalwork doesn't. Beyond that... no idea.
     
    kyratango, reader and i need help like this.
  7. Taupou

    Taupou Well-Known Member

    The head looks like a sheep's, but the feet are wrong. Looks like it has toes, or claws! And I concur, it does have a bit of an Asian look, to me.
     
    kyratango, reader and i need help like this.
  8. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

  9. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

  10. reader

    reader Well-Known Member

    Chinese/Nepalese/Tibetan all ring right to me. I’m sure AJ will know! I don’t know what that green stone is but I love the look of it.
    @Hollyblue any thought to that stone? I would think it should be turquoise but that doesn’t look like it to me.
     
  11. NaptownFTW

    NaptownFTW Active Member

    Thanks everyone. Those pieces are giving me a new direction to look into. It’s just an interesting piece to me. That stone is confusing to me as well. The Asian connection might help.
     
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  12. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    It's green and black with a very pitted surface.Maybe a new photo with the stone having a light coat of olive oil and no overhead light reflection would help.
     
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  13. NaptownFTW

    NaptownFTW Active Member

    @i need help Your link was great. The motifs are monkey and deer. Now I just need to figure out the stone.
     
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  14. NaptownFTW

    NaptownFTW Active Member

    The stone does have some issues. I cleaned and oiled it with mineral oil. I don’t like olive oil on stones. I will post a new photo in daylight tomorrow.
     
    kyratango, judy, reader and 1 other person like this.
  15. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    I’m sure AnyJewelry and HollyBlue will give you more solid info. That’s just from the “World Wide Web”, maybe not so reliable.
    But you’re Welcome. :)
     
  16. reader

    reader Well-Known Member

    IMO never use olive oil except as food or fuel. It goes rancid.
     
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  17. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    I'm for Himalayan. Is the green stone on the lid of a compartment?
     
    judy, kyratango and i need help like this.
  18. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    Kosmochlor?
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kosmochlor
     
  19. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    It is Himalayan, but could have come out of one of the Chinese factories in Tibet. The scroll motifs in the silver are traditional, but badly executed. The use of animal imagery is more Chinese. That curved bail tube is Indian inspired.
    I would say this is a modern piece, with bits and pieces from several traditions.

    Coral is very popular in the Himalayan region, but I have no idea what the green stone is. Favourite Himalayan stone colours are red and blue, coral and turquoise. Tibetan turquoise is greenish, but not as dark as this stone.

    The two central stones in this pendant are Tibetan turquoise, the blue ones are probably Persian:

    upload_2020-8-2_15-17-14.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Aug 2, 2020
  20. DragonflyWink

    DragonflyWink Well-Known Member

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