Mid-20th Century | Hand-Engraved Sterling Silver with Niello Enamel | Italy 925

A magnificent pairing of vintage Siam sterling niello work, this bracelet and necklace embody the refinement of mid-century Thai silversmithing. Each charm is meticulously hand-etched in silver and inlaid with black niello enamel, a labor-intensive process once reserved for courtly and ceremonial ornaments.

The technique — derived from a fusion of ancient Greek and Ayutthayan metal traditions — involves filling engraved silver with a dark metallic compound of sulfur and silver, then polishing to reveal silver reliefs that gleam like moonlight on obsidian. The result is a striking chiaroscuro effect: elegant, dramatic, and unmistakably Siamese.

The motifs depict Mekkala, goddess of lightning, and Ramasoon, god of thunder — figures from the Ramakien epic, Thailand’s version of the Ramayana. Mekkala’s dance releases flashes of light, while Ramasoon’s pursuit brings the rain; together they symbolize the eternal balance of energy and renewal, the cosmic tension between light and storm.