What is niello? The black line in engraved silver

Look closely at a piece of engraved silver and you will often see the pattern drawn in deep black lines. That black is not paint and not tarnish. It is niello, one of the oldest finishing techniques in metalwork, and it is the reason the ornament on many of our pieces reads clearly from across a room.

What niello is made of

Niello is a black alloy of sulphur with metals such as silver, copper and lead. It is prepared as a powder or paste, laid into lines cut into the silver, and then fused with heat. Once it cools it becomes part of the surface: hard, permanent and deep black.

How it is done

First the silversmith engraves the design by hand, cutting each line to the depth the niello will need. The lines are filled, the piece is heated until the alloy melts into them, and the excess is removed. Then comes the long part: filing and polishing until the black sits exactly flush with the bright silver around it. The quality of niello is judged by that line: crisp, even, with no gaps and no smudges.

Silver keepsake box7,850 AEDSilver coffee cup & saucer · 70 ml4,900 AEDEngraved silver tray8,750 AED

Why it is used

Silver alone shows its pattern through light and shadow, which changes with the room. Niello fixes the drawing. The contrast stays the same in morning light and lamplight, and it does not wear away with use the way a surface treatment would. That is why niello appears on pieces meant for daily hospitality: coffee cups, trays, pitchers and goblets that are handled again and again.

Silver tea service127,850 AEDSilver pitcher · 820 ml15,000 AEDLuxury silver goblet · 280 ml7,450 AED

Caring for niello silver

Wipe the piece with a soft dry cloth after use and store it dry. For polishing, use a soft silver cloth on the bright areas. Avoid silver dips, abrasive pastes and the dishwasher: they can attack the black alloy and dull the contrast that makes the piece special. Treated gently, niello silver keeps its look for generations.

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