Featured Silver-Ish Metal Discs. I Thought Horse Collar Rosettes...

Not sure what these are. Measure 4 inches wide. I thought they were horse collar rosettes but seem too big. No visible hallmarks that I can find. Thanks for any help!

 

with the copper backing.....looking like SW concha belt decoration....maybe they were slide thru a leather strap or belt..

not saying they are SW native....only the manufacture to slide a strap thru them...

so...horsey.....maybe..

 

or Elephant !!!!!!!

 

Might they be something like this belt?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1032236091/antique-gold-gilted-balcan-silver-belt?ref=share_v4_lx

 

SIS....could it look any closer than that ????/

 

as SIS found, they are two sets of Ottoman Balkan pafte/buckles.
The hook goes into the ring, only the hook on the more elaborate one is broken. That often happens.
Low grade silver, and most likely 19th century.

 

WOW!!
SIS, for the remainder of the day, YOU are my FAVORITE person!
Thanks so much!

 

I don't usually follow threads in silver forum but just saw it by chance and yes, these are parts of pafti
Here is a link to a listing with different types of pafti, one of them seems the same as the second, more elaborated one here. Language is Bulgarian. They are being made nowadays too.
https://m.olx.bg/d/ad/srebarna-pafta-CID618-ID8SLWj.html

 

A typical BG girl in folk costume with pafti.

 

Beautiful, Iva, I always love them.
I have several pafte, from different parts of SE Europe. My most beautiful set is from Cyprus, I'll see if I can find a photo.

We had new ones made of base metal for our dance group. They looked good enough for on stage.

 

My Cyprus pafte:



Detail with enamel and traces of gilding:

 

Any, I haven't been keen on collecting folk Bulgarian items, apart from what I got from my Granny. And it is not much as she was from a wealthy family (for BG standard at the time) and the whole family used more industrial goods, not that much homemade, it used to be a sign of prosperity to have "bought" or "ready-made" goods at home. And later the socialism contributed. Of course, they made also a lot at home, there was a loom at her house and fabrics were woven, also she kept some outfit from her mother, etc. But there are no pafti among the items,.don't know why.

I don't know why pafti are made now apart from practicing folk dance purposes as in your case, I just saw many ads for newly made pafti in the above site, and quite cheap. Replicas. The link I gave is for genuine old ones, though, judging by their price.

 

Oh, these are very beautiful! Lucky you!

I haven't seen so elaborated pafti here in the museums, and I don't think enamel was used on BG pafti, although I am no expert and may be wrong. Honestly, never paid attention to the details on pafti in ethnographic museums here. Next time I will do it, got curious.

 

I think it was typical for Cyprus. I haven't seen this type from Bulgaria or Macedonia either.
There is a similar one in the British museum, which is how I knew where mine is from. Later I saw one in a book, again Cyprus. It was a good deal because the seller didn't know what it was.

 

I have been in British museum but have no recollection of seeing pafti there Probably have missed the section, there were so many rooms and we had so little time that focused on other stuff. We were on our own with my husband and could choose where to go and how long to stay there.
I have also been to most Greek museums in Athens and in Thessaloniki, again no recollection of pafti. Maybe they were considered too domestic and well known to pay attention to them. Next time when in Greece will pay more attention.

Oh, one of those sellers Good for you they must be expensive if the seller is aware.