This is a vintage pair of black and silver Nielloware sterling silver screw on earrings in the shape of fans. There are two Siamese dancers on each earring, which represent Mekkala, the Goddess of Lightening and Ramasoon the God of Thunder. The back is signed E. Seng Chong and Made in Siam Sterling. The earrings measure approximately 1 ¼ inches across and 1 inch tall. The total weight is .35 ounces on my postage scale, which converts to 9.92 grams.
The earrings are hand-detailed and ornately done. The technique for creating this type of design is described on Wikipedia. “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. Nielloware is classified as only being black and silver colored.”
The country of Siam first changed its name to Thailand in 1939. In the year 1945 it went back to the original name of Siam and then finally changed permanently to Thailand in 1949. Nielloware was a popular item for soldiers to bring back as gifts during the war era. These would be from the 1930s to 1940s.
These are in great vintage condition as you can see by the enlarged photographs. There is a tiny line in the black surface on one earring, it is most likely from the creation. You don't see it without magnification. They both have sturdy screw on backs attached in the center of the earring. I have not polished these and they have the original darker patina. Many people prefer the patina that only comes with age; I will leave any polishing up to you. Please look carefully at the enlarged photographs as they are part of the description and show the details better than I can describe.
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