Japanese Damascene Sterling Silver Brooch

This dramatic brooch is an example of Japanese Damascene and was made in Amita, Japan.  Damascene is the process of inlaying steel with precious metals such as gold or silver, with the name originating from the city of Damascus.  The largest producer of Damascene today is Toledo, Spain, and those pieces actually look quite different than this one. 

There are major differences in the quality, origin, design, and technique of jewelry that is labeled "Damascene."  Some Damascene jewelry on the market today is actually considered "Faux Damascene," as it has the appearance of genuine black and gold Damascene jewelry, but often the gold is not real and it is mass produced, usually in Spain or the far east. This piece is actually solid sterling silver, and the geometric designs (common in Japanese Damascene) seem to have been etched onto the blackened surface with a sharp tool. 

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in purchasing this piece.  Questions, comments, and additional information are always appreciated.  My online shop on www.etsy.com is coming soon.

Thank you to the following website(s) for the historical content of this blog post:

Vintage Jewelry Lane. Retrieved 1/8/2011 from http://vintagejewelrylane.com/information/Damasceneinformation.htm