Gilded Silver Belt #1

Clothing/Dress/Costume

-

MGK Collection

Name/Title

Gilded Silver Belt #1

Description

This late 19th to early 20th-century Ottoman belt features 15 gilt silver panels adorned with niello enamel floral designs. The niello technique, which involves filling engraved lines with a black alloy, creates a striking contrast with the gilded silver. Originating from Armenian metal craftsmen from Van, the belt is crafted from gilded silver and features a detailed buckle with filigree work and three decorative filigree dangles. Hallmarks are present, indicating its authenticity and potential age. It measures approximately 30 inches in interior circumference, with each of the 15 panels sized at 1.25 by 1.75 inches. The belt is marked with "Van" in Ottoman Turkish script and ՀՄ (HM) in Armenian, the latter being the initials of the metal craftsman.

Category

Belts, Metalworks, Clothing, Fashion, etc.

Made/Created

Time Period

Pre-1915

Place

* Untyped Place

Van, Ottoman Empire

Label/Inscription/Signature

"Van" in Ottoman Turkish script and ՀՄ (HM) in Armenian, the latter being the initials of the metal craftsman.

Ethnography

Cultural Region

* Untyped Cultural Region

Ottoman Empire

Culture/Tribe

Armenian

Dimensions

Diameter

30 in

Provenance

Provenance Detail

Owned by sellers father who was an antique collector in the Middle East

Created By

garenkazanc@hotmail.com

Create Date

October 8, 2024

Updated By

garenkazanc@hotmail.com

Update Date

January 28, 2025