Recently Sold (VR548)

Siam Serpent - Vintage Sterling Silver Niello Snake Ring.  This charming ring is crafted from sterling silver, hallmarked SIAM STERLING.   Featuring Vintage Styling, Black Niello, and quality silver work. This lovely ring is in the form of a serpent, which exhibits wonderful engraving throughout the body and a black Niello face. The silver detail of the facial features shine through the black Niello, which makes for a nice contrast.  This is a happy little snake, with its cute smiling face and full of character facial features.  The ring is slightly adjustable from a size 5 to a size 6, it sits at a size 5 1/2 right now.  The Vintage ring looks lovely when worn, a wonderful Siam Serpent for you to enjoy and treasure for many years to come. 

The name Siam came from a Sanskrit word, syam. It was adopted by the Portuguese from the 16th century and became the accepted geographical term. Kingdoms rose and fell, but from the 1780s the Chakri dynasty ruled the whole of Siam from their capital at Bangkok.

For most of its history, the country currently called Thailand was known as Siam. After reforms in 1932, which transformed the country from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy, the name was changed in 1939 to Thailand.

It was made from approximately 1926 until 1989. I know, not what a lot of people think when they see the word 'Siam', falsely thinking that this name dates the piece. The bulk of the jewelry made has been made since 1965.

Niello, black metallic alloy of sulfur with silver, copper, or lead that is used to fill designs that have been engraved on the surface of a metal (usually silver) object. Niello is made by fusing together silver, copper, and lead and then mixing the molten alloy with sulfur.

Measurements:  Width 9.00 mm 

Weight: 2.40 grams 

Ring Size: 5 1/2   adjustable to size 5 - 6 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: Siam 

Date Circa 1960