Help Identifying Tunisian Silver

Hi,

I inherited these objects, which were purchased in Tunisia in the 1960s. I have done some research and identified one as a fibula, and the half-moon shaped as a hilal? I would greatly appreciate if anyone can help me identify the approximate age of the items, if they are antique or newly produced i the 60s?

Also, I cannot tell if they are silver or not, and the local jeweller tested them but was uncertain about some items (passed scrape test but not acid test). Do the crescent/star stamps on the bracelet and the 5 circular stamps on the hilal certify that they are silver? I read that some Tunisian silver was as low as 65% - this might explain the ambiguous test results?

I saw that Edith D has a photo of a cuff bracelet with identical crescent/star stamps, but it is listed as sheet metal. I know there is at least some silver in mine, or at least silver plate. Thank you for any help, as I am completely new in this interesting field. I have some more photos in "My Photos".

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  • Hi David, - I have only just seen the pieces you have inherited, and I think they are and look very good. You are lucky. As it happens not one of them looks to me in need of URGENT polishing, even with a silver cloth (a specially impregnated cloth which you buy for that purpose, and which usually does far more good than harm!!). Over time, though, you will find it necessary, as a rule, to polish the pieces with a silver cloth, or else they will tarnish too badly (you can delay that process by avoiding exposure to the air, and notably sulphur and acids). Alas, the fact that it tarnishes is a drawback of silver vs gold, which usually only tarnishes slightly, though that does depend on the percentage of gold in the alloy: 22 kt gold hardly needs treatment, whereas 9 kt often benefits. The key principle to remember in polishing silver is that tarnish does come back, so that over the years it MUST be polished, or else the tarnish becomes irremovable, and the object will get ruined. The tarnish of the silver itself is a feature of the metal, but in practice the silver almost always is not 100% pure, but is turned into an alloy by the addition of copper and/or other base metals. On the whole the base metals themselves tarnish, in addition to the silver doing so, and copper, notably, does that very badly, so long-term failure to polish will mean that the copper turns brown/black or - worse - green, which is extremely difficult to remove. If silver is badly tarnished you WILL need to use a liquid, and the principle should be not to let things come to that. Do NOT believe that silver does not need maintenance: it does, and even the people British Museum polish their silver. Not to do so is irresponsible, and longer-term ruins the material: there are many fragments from antiquity to prove that: they have simply disintegrated over time. However, with any luck you will need a cloth only, and that does not reduce the patina (liquids often do do so, which is a drawback). Footnote: Patricia is right to insist that you must not remove niello! That will not happen, though, if you use a cloth only and don't rub TOO hard. Congrats on your treasure!

  • Well, I have decided to not polish the pieces. I will try try a polishing cloth to maybe buff them a bit, but otherwise I agree they are best in their original state.

    Unfortunately I do not have any details about the location, just that they are from Tunisia in the 60´s. I will ask around if anyone remembers more details of the trip.

  • I agree, Sarah, a light buffing by hand with a rouge cloth should be the harshest cleaning these wonderful old pieces receive.  ;)

    anna

    SARAH CORBETT said:

    Hi David,

    I tend to be in the don't polish it camp!!!

    It is of course a matter of taste, but the patina is to me a very important aspect of the history of a piece.

    I am sure others will disagree!!!

    SX

  • As far as polishing, it is your own preference. If you wish to resell, best to keep in original condition and let the buyer decide. If you intend to wear and do not like black silver, it is good to use a polishing cloth which, I believe, tends to enhance the patina particularly if the  item is encrusted or very, very dark. Some items which are very, very dark, eg ida ou nadif pieces, are meant to be that way because they are nielloed. It is best not to polish nielloed pieces because a great deal of the value lies in the preservation of the niello and usually the darker the piece, the older the piece. So it is a good idea to be able to tell the difference between tarnished silver and niello.

  • The bracelets should bear hallmarks but the crescent and star are only aethetic engrevings. You should look carefully at edges to see if there are any.

    Another option could be that the bracelet a very low grade silver or silvered copper.

    The other items, i guess are good silver around 800/°.

    Two are fibulas and the third is a necklace .

  • Hi David,

    I tend to be in the don't polish it camp!!!

    It is of course a matter of taste, but the patina is to me a very important aspect of the history of a piece.

    I am sure others will disagree!!!

    SX

  • Thank you everyone for the comments to my photos! So I can assume that the objects are quite old and that they probably are silver. Very exciting, I had no idea these unique handicrafts existed or that so many people collected them. One final question: would you suggest trying to polish the silver objects or is it better to keep the original patina (it might be hard to get an even polish with all the etchings and folds)? David

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