German Silver & Turquoise Butterfly

This is coming up at a local auction. I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts as to origin or quality. Thanks!

 

I think I just answered my own question - duh.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1221551018/butterfly-pendant-natural-turquoise

 

Just so it's clear, this is not from Germany, but is made of an alloy called "german silver" in the USA.

 

u don't need that...imo..

 

Everyone in the USA who makes jewelry calls the alloy nickel silver....... https://www.michaels.com/product/ni...ing-unpolished-mill-finish-166304805235015695

 

It's cute, in a strange way.

 

That may be the case now, but much of the older literature (and museum catalogs) refer to this type of alloy (typically about 60% copper, 20% nickel, and 20% zinc) as German silver.

"It was first developed and used in China, becoming particularly popular during the Qing dynasty. German imitations of the Chinese alloy began to appear in 1750, and by 1770, Suhl metalworks was able to produce a similar alloy. The Germans perfected the process in the early 19th century, and soon it was introduced in England, where the alloy was dubbed 'German silver'."
https://rauantiques.com/blogs/canvases-carats-and-curiosities/prost-a-history-of-german-silver

 

https://gotheborg.com/glossary/paktong.shtml

 

Agreed: I have older pieces clearly marked German Silver.

 

Also Nevada silver here. Same beast. I keep getting "it has silver in it" line from some dealers to this day. Someone even tried to tell me old English pewter has silver in it. uhmmm, no.

 

This is what is also called Alpaca silver right?

 

Yup, or close enough. Nickel alloy with no silver in it.

 

As Ruth says, similar. They’ve all got slightly different chemical compositions but close enough for jazz, as they say.

 

The percentages of the metals used are slightly different, depending on where the item is made, but it is always a copper-zinc-nickel alloy.