Balkan headjewellery

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Posted by Johanne on January 18, 2013 at 10:05pm

Piece of headjewellery, Balkan-area.Bosnia-Serbia?I’ve tested, but it is not silver. I think it’s alpaca.Glass stones. Maybe it’s not complete.17,5cm x 17,5cm (7 x 7 inches)A close-up:https://ethnicjewels.ning.com/photo/balkan-headjewellery-close-up?context=user

Ethnic Embellishments January 19, 2013 at 12:33am

I absolutely love it!
Johanne January 19, 2013 at 9:57am

Thank you Hillary! I did not polish it for years, well polished it looks like real silver.I think it is also called "German silver" another name for alpaca??
Frankie Carter January 19, 2013 at 10:30am

So very nice!

I`ve learnt from a friend who works in the antique jewellery trade that another name for alpaca/German silver is "old silver". Untill she told me I was completely unaware of this and it`s something one could easily get caught out by.
Marie-Ange January 19, 2013 at 10:56am

Alpaca has nothing to do with silver, is only copper, nickel and zinc...........

Does not mean the headdress is less beautiful by it!!
Patricia Deany January 19, 2013 at 12:25pm

This Balkan jewelry is starting to form a memorable pattern, red and greed glass cabachones and more bronze color metal. Of course lots of jewelry is made with alpaca, especially Turkoman and Nepalese.
Johanne January 19, 2013 at 9:47pm

Thanks Frankie, Marie-Ange and Patricia for your comments. Yes I know there is no trace of real silver in alpaca. I find it confusing these different names for non-silver..Often they pretend to be silver..I recently bought a nice wellmade bracelet with inside the mark "Siam Sterling". When I tested it, it was no silver at all..

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