Featured Help Id Silver plaque with coat of arms engraved

Oh thanks so much for your help in dating it
I didn't test it yet i need to buy a silver tester, I'm willing to do it asap
Thanks

 

I really appreciate it, ok I'll wait for updates thanks so much

 

The birds are an ancient Phoenician-Berber symbol of the heavens, also linked to Tanit. Like the arms (sleeves?) on my Tanit pendant. They are often seen on jewellery from the part of North Africa that used to be Phoenician-Carthagean, also present-day jewellery.

 

Not at all. Most people don't like several generations of grease and grime on their jewellery. The first thing I do when a piece of jewellery comes in the house, is give it a gentle bath, if the materials allow. Then I see if further cleaning is necessary.

Exact dating of Berber jewellery is best through marks or the feel of the silver, because imagery remained roughly the same for centuries.
Most antique-vintage Berber jewellery dates from between 1850 and 1950.
If the Tripoli mark is based on the Municipio di Tripoli crest and period (great research again, @i need help), I would say post-1934.
If I am correct, those Municipios were instituted in Italian ruled Libya in 1934, but you know more about Italian history. The Allied Forces took over in 1943, but existing marks could have been used for some years after that.

 

Here is a thread on testing:
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/recommendations-for-testing-kits-please.18018/#post-246387
The most important thing is, never put the liquid directly onto the metal. The directions are given in the thread.

 

Don't worry, no one can access it. The book is near impossible to find (antiquarian), I have been trying for years.
But as you said, it may not be relevant, given the possible period which you so kindly helped research.

Edit:
Aha! just found it, reprint, off to spend some money.
@Gianluca72 , when it arrives, I will look if there is any relevant info on your Salha and get back to you.

 

@i need help and @Any Jewelry

Thanks so much for the reply and info
In awhile I'll follow the test guide and I'll update you about silver purity

 

I ordered a reprint of the 1903 one. It is of more use to me, because it covers more of North Africa and is the standard book on North African jewellery. I have very few Libyan pieces, and they are not my main interest. That is mostly Tunisian city jewellery, which is a mix of styles, and northern Algerian Berber.
Tunisian city jewellery:




Algerian Kabyle Berber earrings, the necklace is probably Moroccan:

 

@Any Jewelry you are a BAD influence. Now all of the other joolies will be keeping their eyes peeled for North African jewelry.

 

Lol every month i visit Rome auction houses the next one is on September I'll be there 100%

 

till there is a proper test done it looks like a cheap cast pewter/white metal alloy with bubbles in the casting.

 

Your words appear unusual to me because by the same photos Catawiki experts answered that considering the provenance and the era and the pics it's 100% silver but that in the description i should specify the purity, determining it by a silver tester
The felt on the back was subsequently placed in Italy by some collector.

 

I don't know of any old Libyan Berber jewellery made of base metal, maybe others more knowledgeable on Libyan Berber jewellery do.
Comparing it to other Berber pieces, I would think the silver content is between .800 and .900, possibly close to the latter.
The value of the piece lies mainly in its rarity and collectibility. Good silver content is a bonus.

 

1. catawiki "experts" are notorius in the art market to give wrong ascriptions.
2. did they see the back without felt ? shows that the cutouts are very sloppily done and the bulges around them are a further hint towards casting that was not even properly fettled.
3. I know Rome and its antique shops very well, my family had a house in Lavinio for over 30 years. and sometimes I went to the city centre with the BF of my mom - he went working a bit in the Ministero della Difesa and I went a bit looking around for some bargains.

 

You know Rome, me i live in Rome from 45 years and i know very well several Auction Houses and their professionality. About Catawiki experts, i let you notice that who answered to me is an international metal and silver and gold antiques expert .
Yes they have seen the felt on the back and also the photos without it.
By the way,, so as @Any Jewelry said "The value of the piece lies mainly in its rarity and collectibility. Good silver content is a bonus" and I don't think that old Libyan Salha was made of base metal, it's like an insult to the Bedouin women that weared it for the wedding.
I will buy the tester and I will be happy to update you. Have a great day