Something I snaffled from the ebay antiques board.

I thought this was interesting.





My guess was some sort of royal couple.

 

Hi AF,
I am getting the strange feeling that the pieces I highlited in green are newer add ons. Very strange.
greg

 

Maybe the 100,not the rest.I thought a marriage link across the middle but maybe it is just an H. I have no interest in the piece but I just found it interesting. I'm hoping someone will say, Oh, that's the monogram of so-and-so.

 

I ID'd the monogram as being for Nicholas II of Russia, after some others suggested it might be Russian. Please scroll down here to see his Imperial monogram: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia

 

Well done on that, I was miles off the mark with other letters but I'll remember it now.
I wonder if it is the badge of some order or regiment?

The 100 Bad Boyars or the 100th Cossack Dance Batallion?

 

Good thought.... Or whether it commemorates the 100th anniversary of something? If the pin and clasp on the back are original to the piece, there is only a small window of opportunity for it to have been made, if it was made during his lifetime. Probably about 1910-1918.

 

The hinge and closure on the pin part is not that old -- wonder if that was added later.

 

Yes the pin and closure do look replaced,also the the circular band. Maybe it started off as something else and then made into a brooch?

I also wonder the significance of the top tassels being a bit different in design and the rest identical. Interesting piece.

 

I just noticed on the left the pointed leaves yet on the right oak leaves ?

 

I'd say laurel and oak if it means anything.

 

Hi Shiloh,
The tassels are different because they are two initials. It is the cypher for
Tzar Nicholas ll of Russia. The inital in the background looks like an H which would be an N for Nicholas and I think the highlited areas where added when he became Tzar. JMHO
greg

 

That makes sense Greg thanks

 

I see it now

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia

 

That's the same link I posted above!

 

LOL, I guess I need to read ALL the posts rather than skimming over them.

 

I skim a lot myself!