Robert Belcher Antiques

Description

A very heavy pair of 19th century Portuguese solid silver arm bracelets

This interesting rare and very substantial pair of heavy silver arm bracelets are of Portuguese manufacture and were made for the West African market where this type of jewellery was often made in heavy metals and used as currency or as a status symbol. These early examples are in the style of Manilla or slave bangles and have been made to a traditional plain design with a simple thick band of heavy silver enhanced with punched decoration and finished with large geometric shaped ends. They are each over 4 ounces in weight making them heavy pieces. They both show signs of a lot of use as the deep decoration is quite worn in places. Each bangle has early silver marks which seem to be Portuguese from my research. The bangles could be earlier with later marks as they do appear from the wear to be very old. Tested silver.
Portugal was heavily involved with the slave trade in West Africa in the 17th, 18th and 19th century.
The weight of each bracelet is 122 grams of silver and 127 grams of silver.
Sizes approximately
Height 1.2cm x width 10cm x depth 9cm

We no longer have shop premises. All of our items can be viewed online.
If you wish to see an item, we will be more than happy to arrange a viewing.

Many thanks
Wendy and Robert