Damascened Bangle Decorated With Two Coloured Gold. Eibar, Spain, 19th Century.

A damascened bangle decorated with two coloured gold.

Eibar, Spain, late 19th century.

Measures 6.4 x 5.5 x 1.8cm (5.7 x 5.2cm internal measurements).

The hinged steel bangle is decorated in gold with foliage, floral cornucopia, birds and wyvern.

The bangle was most likely made by a member of the Zuloaga family of metalworkers.

The preservation of damascening in Spain can largely be credited to the ingenuity of a single family, the Zuloaga’s. Thanks to their efforts, the town of Eibar, nestled in the mountains of the Basque country, became the hub of European damascening in the 19th century. Interestingly, for a brief time, the influence of the Zuloaga’s was even more pronounced in England than in Spain itself.

Damascening is a decorative metalworking technique where a softer metal, typically gold or silver, is inlaid into a harder metal like iron or steel without the use of heat or solder. This can be achieved by hammering the softer metal into a recessed area of the harder material, with the lip around the recess securing the inlay. Another method involves cross-hatching the surface of the harder metal, creating a rough texture that can hold soft foil or wire. To enhance the contrast between the metals after damascening, the steel substrate is often patinated black, which provides a striking backdrop for the polished gold, silver, and copper.