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Antique Turkmen Silver Bracelet (Bilezik) — Fire-Gilt, Set with 4 Carnelians, Tekke Tribe, 19th Century (c. 1850–1900)

This bracelet is a traditional arm ornament from the nomadic Turkmen peoples of Central Asia, with stylistic features most closely associated with the Tekke tribe. Among Turkmen communities, heavy silver jewellery — particularly pieces set with carnelian and turquoise — served both as a marker of wealth and status and as a piece carrying protective/talismanic meaning.

The bracelet is worked in hammered silver using the fire-gilding technique, in which a gold-mercury amalgam is applied to the silver surface and heated, evaporating the mercury and leaving behind a thin, durable layer of gold — a method characteristic of 19th-century Turkmen silversmithing. The surface is hand-engraved with fine floral scrollwork and leaf motifs. The bracelet is set with four cabochon-cut carnelians arranged symmetrically — two larger stones at the centre, flanked by a matching stone on each side.

Material: Silver, fire-gilt, carnelian
Weight: 51.20 grams
Origin: Central Asia, Turkmenistan — likely Tekke tribe
Period: c. 1850–1900 (mid-to-late 19th century)
Type: Fixed (non-adjustable, single-piece) cuff bracelet
Condition: [ 良好状态 ]
Dimensions: [内径 6cm x 高 3cm]

Bracelets of this type reflect the skill of nomadic Turkmen craftsmen of the period; as each was hand-shaped, no two pieces are exactly alike, making them sought-after among collectors.