Pair of Vintage Silver-Tone Peruvian Mayan/Inca Style Keychains

This is a pair of vintage keychains featuring medallions with Pre-Columbian iconography, likely inspired by Peruvian Inca or Mayan heritage. One medallion is octagonal, while the other is circular, both featuring central embossed figures that resemble deity or warrior motifs, surrounded by a border of a Greek key or 'meander' pattern. The items are fashioned from a silver-toned metal, possibly alpaca silver (a nickel-copper-zinc alloy) or a tarnished sterling silver. Each pendant is suspended by a short cable link chain from a traditional horseshoe-style screw-locking key ring. The metal shows a significant aged patina with dark oxidation in the recessed areas, which helps highlight the intricate relief work. Surface wear, including fine micro-scratches and minor pitting, is consistent with regular use. The overall craftsmanship suggests mid-20th-century souvenir or folk art jewelry, common in South American artisan markets. No visible maker’s marks are present on the front, but the heavy construction and distinctive latch mechanisms indicate a durable industrial design from that era.

I have conducted a visual examination of the pair of silver-tone keychains featuring Pre-Columbian iconography. These items are characteristic of high-quality mid-20th-century souvenir folk art, likely from the Peruvian market. The medallions exhibit significant decorative relief with a 'meander' pattern and deity motifs. The construction utilized—specifically the horseshoe-style screw-locking rings—suggests a vintage origin and robust industrial design. Condition is graded as 'Good' to 'Very Good' for their age, with a natural aged patina and minor surface pitting that confirms their vintage status without detracting from structural integrity. The demand for such items remains steady among collectors of Latin American folk art and vintage accessories, though the lack of a '925' or 'Alpaca' hallmark limits the value to that of a collectible rather than precious metal weight. This valuation is based on similar sales of unmarked mid-century South American tourist wares. Limitations: I cannot definitively confirm metal composition via image alone; a nitric acid test or XRF analysis is required to determine if the alloy is sterling silver or alpaca silver/nickel. My assessment assumes a base metal alloy. Furthermore, in-person examination would be necessary to verify the threading condition of the screw locks and check for any hidden maker's marks on the reverse or interiors of the rings. Provenance regarding the original date of purchase would further solidify the dating of these pieces.