Siam Sterling

Date as far back as the 4th century B.C. when jewelly was used by person of high rank as their most beautiful and treasured
ornaments, the work of Enamel on gold and silver jewellery had begun. Renowned artists like Benvenuto Cellini had produced
some magnificent examples of Enamel and many specimens of this art from medieval times enrich the museums and cathedrals of Europe. Niello is something similar to Enamel. It is a black metallic amalgam consisting of several metals. The word "niel in Thai means "black". Niello has been produced only on silver by the same methods as Enamel. Unfortunately, this delicate and minute art has become almost extinct. It survives in Thailand (Siam), where only the most skilled artisans still practice the intricate processes used in the making of this unusual jewelery.

Producing a fine piece of Niello is an operation calling for great skill, patience and precision.

First the designs are engraved or drawn manually upon the smooth surface of the sterling silver. The
background is tapped down or sometime used the acid reaction, and then filled with Niello.

The piece is then carefully heated over a fire until the black Niello filling fuses. After it has cooled, the surface is filed down
and highly polished until it presents the appearance of smooth design of vividly contrasting silver. The designs on every pieces
must be engraved by s killed craftsmen once more for the final finish. Ordinarily, to produce a piece of Niello Silver ware,
generally, there are four main steps to be done by hand in this process, shaping, drawing(design), Niello filling, and engraving respectively.

The dramatic designs used in ornamental Siamese jewellery are varied and unique. Most of the figures represent ancient mythological charactors from the epic of Ramayana. This story was based on the Indian ancient story as far back as thousand years before Buddhist's Event.
Some of the most common figures which are found on almost all pieces of Niellowares are Mekala,
The Goddess of Lighting, Ramasoon, The God of Thunder
and more...

Consider then, the richess and the beauty of Niello, the intricate and almost extinct hand art, and you will know why the
possessor cherishes it and considers Niello the World's most exotic jewellery.

As far back as 14th century, when the capital city wads at Sukothai ( a town in the Northern part of Thailand). The
Niello-Silver wares were used as ornaments by Siamese noble men and person of higher rank serving under the King,
named Ram Kam Hang the Great. When the King wished to pay a visit to the South with his noble men, the artisans,
the silversmith and the goldsmith joined in the party; thus the making of Niello-Silver wares was firmly established in
a Southern town, called Nakon Sri Thamaraj, which was an important port of th country in that period.

Several decades later, the capital city was transfered to Ayuthaya, then Dhonburi, till about the year 1783 it was again
transfered to Bangkok (reigned by Rama I) which is the present capital city.

A short memo from king bhumipol (rama 9) to
the owner of thai nakorn on 22 march 1946

The Old namecard of Thai Nakorn, one of the oldest Siam Sterling Silversmiths in Thailand

In the year 1925, the founder of Thai Nakon went to Nakon Sri Thamaraj, and was greatly impressed by the skill
and workmanship of the Niello-Silver weres workers there, he persuaded a number of these people to come to
Bangkok for more work and better earnings. So, Thai Nakorn was established in 1926, it was the first and oldest firm of Niello-Silverwares makers in Thailand, and has been in this business. In the year 1946 His Majesty King Rama 8 has graciously presented the Royal Emblem to Thai Nakorn and taken this firm into His Majesty patronage; and the firm thus become Niello-Silverwares maker to Royal Court and the H.M. Goverment.

the story above is from Thai Nakorn lift let, printed by Damrong Hatakarn Press, 1973

Give it a wash once in while with a solution of any liquid detergent (silver polish) and then polish with a Soft Cloth.

If we are talking about Nielloware, here in Thailand we do not mean only the one with marked "Siam Sterling,
Thai Sterling, Sterling Made in Siam" or else. The marking Siam Sterling is not the Trade Mark of any companies
or enterprice or partnership, but it is only to identify that the pieces were made in Siam or Thailand. So they
put any phrase that identify the source of origin. Nowaday, the old image character styles are not produced. Mostly the Classical Thai pattern are drawn on the suface, we call Lai Thai (see picture below). Production processes are also different. Main different is how to make the image.

4. After filling, the item will be polished. Then the engraving area will be come out as drawn. The last step is to touch up.

Personal Collection
I have collected the Nieloware since 1997. It was too late, I think. Because many of nice items were bought and export to other countries. They were acquired at very low price from the antique jeweler . One of the Ebay bidder asked me to find the Siam Sterling but I did not know until he sent me the picture. I took sometime to understand the characteristic of the item. After I found some of them, I sold some of them via Ebay Auction. I made profit from that. Later, I felt that if I sell out all of them, the new generation will not have any chance to see this heritage item. So I decided to collect this item. I do not stop selling but I sell only duplicate ones. I have to find and buy the same one before I sell the same old one.

Right now, I have more than 100 pcs. of Nielloware and Color Enamel. I do not like to call Siam Sterling.

Siam Sterling Enamel Instead of Niello, another method to colorize the Silver Sterling, Color Enamel. For those who love bright color but still display the same form