Featured Art Nouveau style bits and pieces, can you identify?

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by Elen Beattie, Jan 16, 2026 at 12:21 PM.

  1. Elen Beattie

    Elen Beattie Well-Known Member

    Hello everyone! Apologies, not exactly jewelry but I thought this was likely the best forum to ask this in.

    I picked these bits up in a lot recently and hoping you can help with some info on them. the first two are belt buckles (I think?!). Do you think they are of the period or revival? I assume the "stones" are glass but will have to test them. They are brass (or gilt metal) and maybe celluloid. The second two ladies appear to have lots of revival examples online but I was unsure about these ones. They have sharp pins/pointy bits on either end of them at the back, what is their function? 3.5"L x 2.6"W. Thanks for your help!

    04ab80b7-837a-4964-ba04-86051841d915.jpg 64188e2a-5bb5-4bdf-8082-0b919922ec3c.jpg 5af9ed9e-391d-4dad-b7a6-04beb5fad8b0.jpg 7215a1da-dfde-4fdd-bdfb-aa0b6fbc0a73.jpg 82106943-77cd-4dc7-93cd-a75e49ecc50f.jpg d6545706-f809-4f60-881f-c8562b0570a2.jpg 574da2bc-14ab-47ac-b9a4-49665b214d57.jpg 084a3424-88e3-4542-a881-b181d4679838.jpg
     
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  2. Debora

    Debora Well-Known Member

    The first two look like sash buckles.

    Debora
     
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  3. Elen Beattie

    Elen Beattie Well-Known Member

    Ok thanks! I always get a little confused how these buckles actually function :hilarious:
     
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2026 at 3:23 PM
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  4. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    You're in the right place. Personal adornment our specialty.

    The backing on the first two may not be actual Celluloid, which was a brand for a cellulose based material, but there were many competitors, & I have no doubt the material is man made. The 'stone' on the first one looks like glass. Harder to tell about the second, although glass more likely. Can't tell from pix, is the green 'stone' translucent or opaque?

    I'm as puzzled as you are by the pair of silver-toned ladies. I would observe that they are not a mirror image pair. Seeing them with the box gives me some idea, but how tall are they? Wonder if they are not also some kind of sash accessory.
     
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  5. Elen Beattie

    Elen Beattie Well-Known Member

    Th
    Thank you! The metal ladies are 3.5"L.
     
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  6. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    I think it's a rushed casting that makes them in anyway different lookin...
     
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  7. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    When next to each other they are both facing the same direction rather than facing each other or facing away, so do not seem designed to be worn on either side of something.
     
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  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    yes , not a pair !
    or an au pair
    or even a pear !!!:wacky:
     
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  9. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    When a friend told me she had followed advice to advertise for a nanny in the Irish Echo, I said, So you're looking for an O'Pair.
     
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