Featured Silver or not?

I do see the pry marks along the rim, but I was wondering if the front instead might twist off from the back???? Is it really less than an inch dia.? AND it is quite lovely too!!!

 

Can you give a wee polish where I’ve circled in red.......looks like it might say something there.....

 

I hope it doesn't say.....Don't polish me !!!

 

@Torkel Oftedal, there ARE no stupid questions here.....we all learn from each other!!!

 

I do too, but also I hope the 'human side' includes the humour. I love it.
It's a serious business but one shouldn't take it all too seriously [blame 31 degree Sydney heat for this thought]. .

 

Back to the topic. I wonder if the design is of clover leaves and therefore it may be Irish? And, if so, is Irish silver usually marked? Hot on the trail of something completely misleading here. I'll go away now.

 

Gorgeous brooch, Torkel. Such nice detail for such a little darling. I would guess silver, but maybe not sterling, so maybe not British.
I'm with the others in thinking it may open.

Maybe because of the slightly rounded back? That is a feature of early brooches. In this case I'd guess ca 1830-50, but others may have a different insight.

It is part of the information to check when dating a brooch.
When it comes to closures, important things to look at are the type of hinge, in your case tube hinge, the type of clasp, in your case C-clasp, and the length of the pin. Longer is older, but shorter doesn't always mean younger. So you have to take the entire brooch into account, style, decoration and type of back, for instance.
The dating of the chart only starts at 1850, and applies to North America. It is useful for European made brooches as well, as long as you bear in mind that round hinges and hand made safety catches were already used on European brooches in the 1890s.

There are no stupid questions (only stupid answers ). Questions are a sign of an enquiring mind and willingness to learn. That is what the forum is for, so you are spot on.

 

Above all not take oneself too seriously.

Uhm......
I don't think it is clover, but plant and flower symbolism was important in antique jewellery.

 

I don't think it's clover, either. Would love to know what it is, as it might help in figuring out a date range.

@Torkel Oftedal , your photos are excellent!

 

Just came in, and are overwhelmed with the response of this "mystery" brooch! I have looked for marks according to advise here, and i have tried to gently open it, but have not got the tools and i want to do it very gently; results, it do not open. But as some of you say, it seem to be a brooch that can open, but i will leave this to others. I simply have to many objects that i am going to verify what is, and mainly realize, as i cannot keep all myself. So again, thank you so much for all your efforts here, now i will put it for sale on the sales folder here, and hope that someone will be interested in solving this mystery further! And here are also some new photos of the places where i have been checkig today on this item!

 

Hi Torkel!

The design reminds me of your famous Norwegian Rosmaling.

Worn upon traditional clothing?

It's lovely.

 

Yes it does, but i do not think that it is Norwegian (just a gut feeling). Originally it was brought to us from the UK, but of course, nothing can be ruled out!

 

I guess it being Norwegian would make the mystery too simple!!

So it's remains unknown!

 

There could be a mark on the inside surface.The middle photo in his last post shows an indented area which is keeping the top from closing and an interior raised "ring" which would have been hidden if the top was closed.

 

If it opens, someone tried to pry it which may now make it difficult to unscrew.

I think it opens the way you would unscrew the back of a pocket watch off.

 

I don't see any threads on the interior metal.

 

You wouldn't

http://www.pocketwatchrepair.com/how-to/open-pocketwatch-cases.php

Go to post #7
https://forums.watchuseek.com/f11/need-help-opening-old-pocket-watch-1781858.html

 

@clutteredcloset49

According to the pocket watch repair link,if it was a screw off case threads would be visible.There are no threads visible post#30 middle photo.

 

Pocket watch repair description of screw off back - you will see a seam,


Post 7 in the other link explains how to open it.

 

It really is typical of British sentimental brooches of the nineteenth century. I'll remember what the leaves are in a mo'.