Question
metal bangle
Hi Chris, not sure if this is in your field or not. I have a metal bangle that belonged to my parents but don't know where they got it from. It is kind of gothic looking and appears to have been hand hammered (from looking at the inside). It is hinged with a chain and the T pin in the photo could be gold. The bangle is quite heavy but I don't know what metal it is made of and there are no makers markings at all. If you could provide any information about it (type of metal, year made etc)I would much appreciate it. I live in New Zealand and hard to find out from over here.Thanks in advance for your time.
AnswerDonna, Thanks for the question.
The bracelet is a beautiful piece. A great example of Planishing chasing and Repousse you might like to view this short video I found on you tube to understand a little of how it was made. :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZOZstbluL0&feature=related
To me the photo of the front side is very blurry but the basic design looks aquatic or cloud like. That reminds me of antique Chinese bracelets I have seen. As to the design from the look of the hinges on the picture you sent in the second page, It is fairly modern and the pin looks even more modern. It's natural design could be Chinese or any artist inspired by the swirls of sea weed or clouds in the sky. I have not found any similar pieces with the Internet queries I have run nor have I run across it in my past. We don't get as much Oriental art as you get in your area, you might go to the library in the area you purchased it and search for it there it might lead you to find an artist in the area that may have had a local following but not have made it out on the Internet, sometimes knowing the right key word may help you search, trying a better quality photo with Google goggles (Google Photo Search) may also produce some results.
In order to test the metal you could file the side of one of the hinges and apply a metal testing liquid such as aqua regia or a gold test kit. If it turns green or almost any color it isn't gold. Green is probably brass or copper white or creamy brown could be silver, blue is most likely nickle or some other pot metal. The Gold test kit usually uses a very strong acid like Nitric or has a special aqua regia mix.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqua_regia
Or you can order one already mixed to turn only the Karat you test. You can order a test kit or tester from a company like this if you don't have one.
http://www.scales-n-tools.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=10&gclid=CN-yg4akx
Both can burn your skin and are only to be used with proper directions. I recommend gloves and eye protection.
To tell the Karat a test sample of each type of Karat that you want to test for is needed to compare the fade time on a piece of slate,when you put a drop of aqua regia on the gold stripes you rub on the slate. or you can buy an expensive electronic tester but again that will only tell you the surface Karat.
I hope this helps you, It's a beautiful piece.
C
