Asking for help with determining ages of three brooches

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by quirkygirl, Dec 15, 2016.

  1. quirkygirl

    quirkygirl likes pretty old things

    Hello!
    I am looking for help with the ages of these three beauties I picked up today ... and any other info. you may wish to offer as well, will be appreciated greatly.
    Here's the group shot:
    P1110690(1).JPG

    Only the cameo has any markings. It is stamped 800 on the pin bar ... so 800 silver. Does it look Italian to you? and ... um .... that is a girl in a cloche, right? What is sticking out of the top of her hat?!? My guess from pin hinge and catch ... mid to late 1800's ... but the hat looks like a later style .... soooo, early 1900's?
    P1110692(1).JPG P1110694(1).JPG
    I'm guessing (hoping) the one below is a mourning brooch. The center stone is a banded agate (onyx) as far as I can tell. The back frame lifts out (with some effort), and is where a lock of hair would go, right? The decorated band closest to the edge is enamel, black or very dark blue. I would also guess mid to late 1800 on this one ....
    P1110695(1).JPG
    P1110698(1).JPG P1110696(1).JPG
    This last one is my favorite ... love the seed pearls (missing 2 - but hard to notice) ... love the design ... even love the diamond (I think that's what it is - not tested) with its funky cut and its inclusions. I don't think that the pin mechanism is original to the pin .... what do you think?
    P1110699(1).JPG P1110700(1).JPG
    Thanks for looking, and of course for any comments or input. :)
     
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  2. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Female warrior - Greek style?
     
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  3. quirkygirl

    quirkygirl likes pretty old things

    You could be correct! I had considered maybe a young, or even effeminate-looking, male warrior with those delicate features and that headdress .... but not a female warrior. Does look like she's wearing some type of toga, huh?
     
    KingofThings likes this.
  4. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Some kind of protective armor? Made up of shell-shaped pieces?
     
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  5. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    With the laurel wreath around the helmet, perhaps a goddess?
     
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  6. Bakersgma

    Bakersgma Well-Known Member

    Athena?
     
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  7. bobsyouruncle

    bobsyouruncle Well-Known Member

    Quirkygirl....I love your finds..mourning brooch and seed pearl are amazing!
     
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  8. quirkygirl

    quirkygirl likes pretty old things

    I think you may be right on that ID. Google brought up several with very similar headgear ... referred to Minerva as well. I wouldn't know ... pretty sure I was daydreaming during those lessons.
    You rock, Bakersgma!!!! :) Thanks!
     
    Bakersgma likes this.
  9. quirkygirl

    quirkygirl likes pretty old things

    Thank you :)
     
  10. johnnycb09

    johnnycb09 Well-Known Member

  11. quirkygirl

    quirkygirl likes pretty old things

    Wow! I've never heard the term cat eye or bull's eye agate, but that's what it looks like ... a big dilated pupil! Cool! ... and I learned another new term! Thanks johnnycb09!
     
    cxgirl likes this.
  12. Sandra

    Sandra Well-Known Member

    You had a great day picking up these treasures.
    I believe the seed pearl brooch is a Victorian lapel watch pin, a watch would have have been place on the hook on the reverse. I too believe as you do that the closure assembly is a replacement.
     
  13. Sandra

    Sandra Well-Known Member

    I should have mentioned in the above post that as these watches in working order are very hard to find, quite often I have hung a pretty age appropriate locket on the hook. However, your brooch would be lovely worn just as it is.
     
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  14. Lucille.b

    Lucille.b Well-Known Member

    I especially like the seed pearl one. If that is in fact a diamond I would think it has a nice value. What great finds! Beautiful.
     
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  15. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    Lovely pieces. I think all three date from mid to late 1800s.
    And yes, cameos were carved in Italy. One particular city, whose name escapes me, did the majority of carvings.
     
    quirkygirl likes this.
  16. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    The seed pearl & diamond...( I see no reason to believe it isn't..but get it tested anyways) looks all hand made, & if the pin is indeed a replacement , it was done by a very competent jeweler .
    I'd say 18K...maybe 14K......but the way it's structured on the back...I'm liking a softer gold.

    It's a winner fer sure !!!!:happy:
     
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  17. Figtree3

    Figtree3 What would you do if you weren't afraid?

    Yes! And to me the style of the carving looks like 20th century. The 800 should probably mean it's made in Italy. However, the hinge on the pin looks like it's late 19th century... so that is confusing. European jewelry does sometimes have different styles than US or Canadian, though. And perhaps the carving could be very late 19th century...
     
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  18. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    The mourning brooch may have a pique work border - are you sure it's enamel? The pearl one is late Victorian: high Art Nouveau and very nice. Mine cut diamond probably. Cameo is early 20th and simply not as well done as some. It's a cheaper piece, originally.
     
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  19. quirkygirl

    quirkygirl likes pretty old things

    I just looked again with the loupe ... it's enamel. There are some tiny open bubbles here and there and a few minuscule chips along the edge where it meets the inside rim.
     
    bobsyouruncle likes this.
  20. PACKRAT

    PACKRAT Well-Known Member

    Good Cameos are conch shell. Very delicate.
     
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