Golden Beaked Eagle Walking Stick with Gold Niello

A fine Mahogany Walking stick with an eagle's beak intricately crafted in Gold Nielloware artwork.  The eagle wears a Gold Niello 'necklace' , making this piece an elegant fashion accessory.  The base of the stick has been strengthened with cylindrical Gold plated Sterling Silver and  rubber as an anti-slip.

 Gold Nielloware is a traditional as a Thai art form dates back to at least the Ayutthaya period (1351-1767). The technique involves the craftsmen carving a design into silver (various metals can be used) and working with Gold and mercury to fill the relief, leaving the lower part for black and the raised relief for the Gold. Heat by way of fire gilding is then applied to expose the mercury, leaving the Gold behind, after which, it would then be sanded smooth and buffed whereby the colours end up as a uniform finish. Fire gilding lasts many more years than electro-gilding or electro galvanizing.

In Thailand, most temple or roof tops in Gold are done with Niellowork because it lasts for hundreds of years. Long associated with Nakhon Si Thammarat province, these items were traditionally tribute to the court of Bangkok that were subsequently redistributed by the king to high-ranking noblemen. Niello was also used in Ancient Egypt and Rome on a variety of objects including sword hilts, chalices, plates, horns, adornment for horses.

 The gold Niello Art Work took almost two and a half months to complete, and thereafter another two weeks to finish the piece with six craftsmen and designers involved at various stages.

 Size: 4(W) x 10(L) x 97(H) cm.

Weight: 507 g.