Featured crude ethnic african? cuff bangle

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by charlie cheswick, May 31, 2023.

  1. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    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

    cuf1.JPG cuf2.JPG cuf3.JPG cuf10.JPG cuf7.JPG cuf9.JPG cuf12.JPG
     
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  2. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

  3. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

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  4. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    Test it with a magnet.
     
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  5. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

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

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    I'm thinking West African. Hm.
     
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  7. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    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.
     
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  8. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    Thinking maybe a low grade silver, can't think of anything else it could be
     
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  9. 2manybooks

    2manybooks Well-Known Member

    These are a bit finer, but decorated with the same half-moon stamps:
    Reang - Chakma anklets - India.jpg
    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.
     
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  10. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    They do have very similar characteristics.

    Very helpful indeed, thanks tmb
     
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  11. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    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.
     
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  12. JewelryPicker

    JewelryPicker Well-Known Member

    Reminds me of some West Indies (Caribbean) cuffs

    I’d definitely say there’s silver there
     
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  13. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    gotta be a bitta silver there

    before

    cuff7.JPG

    wipey wipey

    cuff5.JPG

    cuff4.JPG cuff2.JPG cuff3.JPG

    will have to get some more silver testing fluid to find out how much
     
  14. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    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.
     
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  15. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    Nice tip, thanks evey
     
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  16. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

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

    JewelryPicker Well-Known Member

    I 2nd this

    haven’t bought “silver acid” in years

    Sterling and higher purity will turn almost a fluorescent blue
     
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  18. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

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