Gallery

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Caucasian enamelled and gilt silver belt

Posted by Joost Daalder on August 25, 2011 at 2:05pm

While Caucasian belts of this type in silver or in silver plus niello decoration are not rare, one which is silver gilt and enamelled like this one certainly is. We very nearly had the chance of buying this several years ago, but the opportunity eluded us as at the last moment the seller withdrew. It always is a joy to look at the piece, even so ... It would probably date very early 20th c. ADDITION: we are informed that this comes from Tiflis, is very rare, and in fact 19th c.

Comments

Joost Daalder January 24, 2012 at 2:24am

Yes, it is indeed very rare and great, kebzari, and I still greatly regret that the seller withdrew the piece from the market when once we had expressed an interest in buying it!! I have no difficulty believing it is 19th c - we usually choose conservative dates, so "very early 20th c" is coy! I am very glad you like it, and that we can at least look at the picture. I wish I had the object ... But, in truth, we did not fail to act, but the wretched seller denied us our opportunity, and I am still very annoyed as a result.
Linda Pastorino March 25, 2012 at 10:22pm

yes this is like one I sold also and is caucasian. The shape of which is like the silver ones and then enameled over the top.
Joost Daalder March 25, 2012 at 10:40pm

Quite so. Interesting that you apparently only owned ONE? That would confirm its rarity.
Linda Pastorino March 25, 2012 at 10:44pm

I do know several of my regular buyers who had them already when I offered it. I think being that many clients are in Europe could explain to me it's rarity. Not that it is a hard to find type but yes not common either. for every silver version that there are 400 of maybe one of these. I must have seen thousands of the silver ones over the years. Some nicer than others of coarse!
Joost Daalder March 25, 2012 at 11:05pm

Yes, some things which are very rare now, like this, would have been less rare several years ago when you still came across them. The silver or silver-gilt ones are indeed very numerous, but even they are probably no longer QUITE as plentiful. So, if you have seen the enamelled ones at the rate of 1:400, it would follow that, if you saw 10:4000 in the past, over decades, you will from here on plausibly see just one or two! What you say about the ratio of 1:400 sounds plausible, going by my own experience.
Joost Daalder April 1, 2012 at 3:59am

If we were offered the opportunity once again (as in theory we once were!) to buy this belt we would still be greatly interested.