7x8x10mm Ethnic Tribal Barrel Bail in Antiqued Tibetan Silver

SOLD INDIVIDUALLY

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PLEASE BE AWARE: The majority of "Tibetan Silver" sold of late online or elsewhere contains very little or even no actual silver - the term has become more an expression of the "LOOK - ie of a highly decorative antiqued-silvertone look" than of the actual silver content itself. 

The following quote from Wiki - "Tibetan silver is used primarily in jewellery components, and is similar to pewter - an alloy of copper, and sometimes tin or nickel, with a small percentage of pure silver. Its overall appearance is of aged silver, but it can be polished to provide highlights on complex castings. The nickel content is nowadays reduced or absent, due to common allergies to this metal.

Tibet silver used to have a higher silver content a decade or two ago, up to 30% or higher, but cheaper reproductions from Far Eastern factories have diluted the term. The genuine article can only really be got from the metal and silversmiths in situ, some of whom still manage to produce work from their long tradition of gold and silversmithing in this country. The related term 'Nepalese silver', however, seems to have held on to the higher silver content and association with quality metalsmithing.

Currently, jewellery, beads and castings described as 'Tibetan Silver' tends to be a base iron 'cheese metal' casting, overlaid with this pewter and silver plating."