DATE: Art Deco, c.1930

Excellent Egyptian Revivalist snake bangle dating from the 1930s. It's crafted in niello silver, with various Egyptian scenes decorating its body, and geometric scales and detailing to the head and tail - it looks good worn on the upper arm. In 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun triggering a fresh wave of Egyptomania that influenced the Art Deco movement, and writers such as Agatha Christie and Thomas Mann. Egyptian Revival jewellery came back into fashion, and demand for Egyptian-themed pieces such as this one boomed. 

Niello is an ancient technique, similar to enamelling, but using a black mixture of silver, copper, lead, and sulphur. The power or paste is added to the base metal (usually silver) and then fired until it melts, then left to set in place. There’s evidence of the technique being used as far back as the Bronze Age, and it has been used throughout history by many cultures including the Byzantines, Romans, Islamic world, and the Far East.

MEASUREMENTS 

Internal circumference: 8 inches

Internal diameter: 6.5cm

Width of band: 7.1mm

WEIGHT 

38.3g

MARKS 

No marks present, tests as sterling silver

CONDITION 

Very good, light wear commensurate with age