19th Century Shakudō Monkey/Dog Pendant mizpah vegetation

vegetation

tests as gunmetal

but the marks inside confirm its origins in the Austro-Hungarian empire - circa 1880

A spectacular pair of diamond dome earrings dating from the late Victorian period

with Austrian marks

19th Century Shakudō Monkey/Dog Pendant mizpah vegetationDATE: Victorian, c. 1890 Very weird Japanese Shakud pendant formed as a monkey dog creature. It's holding a rope in its mouth, with clover motifs along its back and gold eyes and nose. Shakud is an alloy of gold and copper that, when treated, takes on a black (or sometimes indigo) patina. It's one of the irogane colour metals traditionally used in sword making, door locks, drawer handles, and, in modern times, jewellery. The colour metals are all