Very Unusual Antique Art Deco European 800 Silver Niello Multi-Design Bar Brooch. This gorgeous Russian silver Niello work belt buckle was made by Russian silversmith. Aleksandr Vasilbev Domnin in St. Petersburg around the 1890s. It features a masterfully decorated scalloped shield design with. A jambiya dagger pin on a safety chain. All parts to this antique early 20th century buckle are hallmarked. In very good antique condition with some tarnishing to the back, closes well and secure. Niello is a black mixture, usually of sulphur, copper, silver, and lead, used as an inlay on engraved or etched silver. It is added as a powder or paste, then fired until it melts or at least softens, and flows or is pushed into the engraved lines in the metal. It hardens and blackens when cool, and the niello on the flat surface is polished off to show the filled lines in black, contrasting with the polished silver around it. This impressive piece measures 2 5/8″ long x 2″ wide and weighs 27 grams. 84 Zolotnik = 875 = 87.5% Silver and carrying Domnin’s makers mark in Cyrillic writing along with the city mark for St. Petersburg which was used around the 1890s. We describe our items as accurately as possible but a picture is worth a thousand words, so please be sure to view all pictures since they are considered part of the description. Please read the written description for dimensions and weight. We acknowledge your right to return an item if you don’t like it since you’re only able to really tell once you can touch and see it in person.