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Nielloware jewelry and related items from Thailand were popular gifts from American soldiers taking "R&R" in Thailand to their girlfriends/wives back home from the 1930s to the 1970s. Most of it was completely handmade jewelry.

The technique is as follows: The artisan would carve a particular character or pattern into the silver, leaving the figure raised by carving out the "background". He would then use the niello inlay to fill in the "background". After being baked in an open fire, the alloy would harden. It would then be sanded smooth and buffed. Finally, a silver artisan would add minute details by hand. Filigree was often used for additional ornamentation. Nielloware is classified as only being black and silver colored. Other colored jewelry originating during this time uses a different technique and is not considered niello.

Many of the characters shown in nielloware are characters originally found in the Hindu legend Ramayana. The Thai version is called Ramakien. Important Thai cultural symbols were also frequently used.

Although there is not much commercial value to nielloware jewelry, they are wonderful keepsakes and often hold sentimental value. They are easy to match and provide interesting conversation pieces. Some items such as cigarette boxes, fancy necklaces, belts and candlestick holders do have significant value, often in the hundreds of dollars.

Common nielloware pieces include: necklaces, bracelets, brooches, tie bands, rings, earrings, pendants, buttons, and snuffboxes.

Currently, the only book on these items is Overview of Siam Sterling Nielloware,' ' authored by Charles Dittell.

This pair of earrings is paisley shaped 3/4" wide by 1 1/8" high with screw backs. The screw backs are good and tight. The earrings need to be cleaned, but I leave that to the buyer. There is a Thai dancer or fighter on them and a filigree pattern on one side.

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