I believe this technique is described in "The Smallsword in England" (J.D.Aylward 1945, p.57) where swords were made in the 'Tonquinese' style. Tonquin (Tonkin) is the northermost part of Vietnam near Yunnan China and on the gulf. It had been said that this elaborate style had been made in the VOC factory there, but Dampier (1688) suggested contrary and that these type hilts were likely made for European markets in thier factories in Peking.
The Dutch brought Chinese artisans to the Netherlands where they worked using Dutch and Solingen blades.
Apparantly the key feature of these Tonquinese style hilts (usually on smallswords) was using black 'Shakudo' bronze, a soft alloy of antimony, gold and copper (4% gold, 96% copper). With the use of this material in fine, thin sheet, the intaglio (background) was known as 'nanako' (as mentioned by Richard) and described as 'fish roe gilt'. The sword shown and notes pertain to c.1710-20.
It is known that Chinese workmen also entered into East Europe shops as well and certainly seems possible to Lvov, where many Polish/Tatar weapons were produced. Regarding connection between Russia and Lvov I would suggest looking into Tula where the finest Russian arms were produced (the massive Zlatoust was of course more rank and file).
The popularity of rayskin was taken from oriental weapons decoration around early 17th century. As obtaining actual rayskin was often difficult, by the late 17th-early 18th also used was sharkskin . In the 18th c. a faux rayskin was produced in France imitating the calcified papillae of the rayskin by using rough, untanned shagreen (horsehide) and imbedding seeds and pressing through soft cloth. It was then dyed often with green dye from reverse.
This process by leatherworker of Louis XV named Jean Claude Galluchat (d. 1774) and termed for him 'galuchat'.
Perhaps similar application might have been used via repousse method with seeds pressed under the thin alloy sheet?
The same intaglio or background is seen on nielloed weapons from Daghestan, Tblisi and others perhaps Tula.
The Armenian arms makers in Lvov working in the reign of King John Sobieski (1673-96) very much favored oriental styling using niello, gold and silver inlay and it would seem quite possibly this much desired oriental style. Naturally more research but at least this might offer a start.
All best regards,
Jim
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