Featured crude ethnic african? cuff bangle

hi folks, something i picked up yesterday for not very much

just looks interesting and crudely made

weighs a tonne (solid), no chance of getting it on my wrist

smells like steel

any ideas on its origin and age

many thanks

Charlie

 

Key word "torc" or "torque" bracelet or bangle bracelet, Charlie.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torc

Debora

 

Very helpful, thanks Deb

 

Test it with a magnet.

 

Just tested and its not magnetic, so can't be steel then I guess

 

I'm thinking West African. Hm.

 

Same here. My mom brought one home from Nigeria 60 years ago that looks similar. Probably haven't changed much. I can't get into the thing; my hands are way too big.

 

Thinking maybe a low grade silver, can't think of anything else it could be

 

These are a bit finer, but decorated with the same half-moon stamps:

https://trci.tripura.gov.in/emuseum/object/bengi-thengot-kharu/

"Description: Anklets worn by the Reang and Chakma women. They are decorated with embossed circular motifs."

From Tripura State in India, an area on the eastern border of Bangladesh.

 

They do have very similar characteristics.

Very helpful indeed, thanks tmb

 

If they're big enough for ankles, we Westerners could probably wear them as bracelets. High copper content there, but that doesn't mean they're not 50/50 silver.

 

Reminds me of some West Indies (Caribbean) cuffs

I’d definitely say there’s silver there

 

gotta be a bitta silver there

before



wipey wipey





will have to get some more silver testing fluid to find out how much

 

Or just use your 18k acid on a testing stone and a little experience. Scratch some metal onto the stone and hit it with the acid. The metal, if silver, will "curdle" up and turn white/gray. Silver plate will react almost immediately, and the longer the reaction takes the lower the silver purity is. It's no good for exact measurement but it will give you a good idea.

 

Nice tip, thanks evey

 

Just passing it along. Lot of joolies don't even buy silver acid. It goes bad too quickly.

 

I 2nd this

haven’t bought “silver acid” in years

Sterling and higher purity will turn almost a fluorescent blue

 

Yeah I made that mistake before, bought 2 bottles
And had to throw away 1 1/2 bottles