Alpaca Silver Brooch

Marked "Alpaca", this wonderful and very happy little fish brooch was hand-crafted in Mexico. The full markings read "Alpaca" and "Mexico." There is a third line, which could have been the maker's mark, but it is illegible. The design inset in the silver is black onyx and shell.

Alpaca silver is not sterling silver. It is a low-grade silver alloyed with other metals. These pieces do not tend to tarnish as much or as quickly as sterling does. And in every way, they are just as nice as the sterling. The design is inset in onyx and shell.

Approximate dimensions are 1-7/8" x 1-3/8". Total weight is 7.1 grams. The brooch is in excellent, collectible condition. The pin, hinge, and clasp are all in perfect working order.