04/04/2026
A niello silver bracelet from Egypt (or the marshlands of Iraq).
The silver is decorated with a snake’s head, snake scales, and scenes of ships and palm trees, referencing either the marshes of southern Iraq or the Nile region of Egypt. The bracelet features the word فاخر (fākher) in the center, meaning “luxurious” and used to describe high-quality goods.
Here we have an exemplary example of niello work on sterling silver; the bracelet features a serpent motif. The bracelet likely dates from before or during World War II (late 1930s–early 1940s) and was certainly brought back by soldiers or sailors who were stationed in that region.
https://www.etsy.com/fr/listing/4309663811/bracelet-en-argent-nielle-du-magreb
