Antique bangle from Bhutan - silver, partially gold-plated with turquoise

Impressive, heavy bangle from Bhutan - an exceptional piece of traditional Himalayan jewelry art with documented provenance.

The massive 172 g bangle is made of silver with a high silver content and is decorated with carefully soldered, gold-plated elements. The surrounding band shows a dense sequence of chased flower and vine decoration - floral motifs and curved cloud tendrils alternate in traditional Bhutanese craftsmanship. Inlaid turquoise cabochons in bright blue-green create powerful color accents; several turquoise stones are grouped in gold-plated settings at each of the two widened ends of the open hoop. The upper and lower edges of the band are edged with twisted silver wire - a characteristic feature of traditional forging from the Himalayan region.

The hoop is not round, but slightly oval in shape (diameter 83 × 65 mm) and has an opening of 24 mm - it is narrow and only suitable for very slender wrists.

Provenance: Acquired in 1982 in Thimphu / Bhutan from a private collector - at a time when such pieces still came from traditional family collections to local markets.

In Bhutan and Tibet, turquoise has been much more than jewelry for centuries - it was considered a protective stone, status symbol and store of value at the same time. Heavy silver hoops with turquoise inlays were worn on special occasions and often passed down through generations.

Weight 172 g · Diameter 83 × 65 mm · Opening 24 mm · Silver, partially gold-plated · Turquoise inlays · Provenance: Bhutan 1982