A digital archive showcasing the extensive collection of jewellery and adornment images shared on the former Ethnic Jewels Ning site over the years. These images have significantly enriched discussions on cultural adornment and its global dispersion.
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I need an education, please. Is this chasing with niello or am I seeing the dark tarry substance used in Afghanistan as a background for the raised part of the design?
The dark material in the recesses does not look like, and conventionally would be extremely unlikely to be, niello, I think, Anna. It does not have to be "tarry" either, but in many countries it is very conventional, as you imply, to rub any kind of black paste (which needs to have some sticking power!) into the recesses so as to contrast those with the highlighted areas. This is seen as a prefectly respectable procedure - nothing inferior or dishonest (without the contrast, the piece would look comparatively dull). With gold, red is often used for just the same purpose.
Good to see you back here, Savanna.
I should add that niello is, of course, used to create black, and often on silver. Mostly not into recesses of this nature, though - often on the surface, or in a way similar to enamel.