Tsarist Niello & Soviet Imitation Niello

[Postnikov]

HI -
A word regarding Soviet silver, looking like and be described as niello.
This "niello" is not niello, it is a chemical oxydation, looking at the first glance like niello. All the fake niello silver is made like that today, only the contures of the sujet are engraved. So be careful!
Real niello is completly engraved and the lost silver material is filled up with a special substance, after it gets polished.

Hope that helps

[Qrt.S]

Exactly, here is a picture where you can see it for yourselves.
Trough a magnifier the black parts look like "painted" not "engraved or filled" . Don't mind the grooves. They are made to distract you to believe in genuine niello. By the way, it is a Soviet piece :-)

[Postnikov]

Hi -

some more fotos to beware you of the many "Niello" fakes. First the fakes, they come in all variants, with more or less architecture or floral pattern.



Some genuine Niello from GUBKIN
(admin photo edit - images too large - insert as link only - see Posting Requirements)
http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd33 ... ov/G01.jpg

from IVANOV

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd33 ... ov/I01.jpg

and two from OVTSCHINNIKOV

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd33 ... ov/O01.jpg

http://i529.photobucket.com/albums/dd33 ... kovI02.jpg

I hope the difference can be seen

Regards

Postnikov

[oel]

Dear Ying and Yang,

This might be useful:

Niello an other name is tula, after the Russian city Tula see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niello


Not “niello” or imitation niello is mostly darkened with liver of sulphur to provide a black contrast to the silver see:

http://www.metalclayuk.co.uk/asp/LOS.asp

Regards,

Oel