Recently Sold (VR547)

Siam Treasure - Vintage Sterling Silver Niello Ring.  This lovely ring is crafted from sterling silver, hallmarked SIAM STERLING, and a makers mark ALPHA.  Featuring Vintage styling, Niello, and quality craftsmanship. The ring is a band style, and exhibits a Siam figure with decoration around the circumference of the band. The Niello black enamel is a wonderful contrast to the silver.  The Vintage ring is collectible and unique, and looks fantastic when worn. 

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.

Some of the earliest uses, from 1-300 AD, seem to be small statuettes and brooches of big cats, where niello is used for the stripes of tigers and the spots on panthers; these were very common in Roman art, as creatures of Bacchus.

Measurements: Ring (width) 6.50 mm 

Weight: 3.00 grams 

Ring Size: 6 

Condition: Excellent 

Origin: Siam 

Date: Circa 1960