Featured Another Bug From Gran's Shoe Boxes

Hi there
I have found yet another bug amongst Gran's jewellery. This one looks a little less brilliant than the first one I found but kind of sweet I can't find anything stamped into the metal but it does have a good weight to it. It was in a box but not sure if the box is original to the brooch. Any ideas anyone?
Thanks so much.
Tracey

 

Looks like the wings are damascene, in this case blackened iron hammered with gold and silver foil. The rest of the fly would be gold-plated. If the box came with it, it is from Toledo, Spain.
I haven't seen the subject before, but then I haven't seen every piece of Toledo damascene ever made.
Another option is Japanese damascene. Japanese love decorative insects.

 

@Any Jewelry is damascene when lighter coloured metals are inlaid into a blackened metal?

 

Another precious bug, TraceyB! Your Gran's shoe boxes are much more fun than mine. They just have shoes in them.

 

In this case it is. Damascene is any metal design in another metal.
The word is derived from Damascus, Syria, where metal inlay has been an important craft for centuries.

This is an antique Damascus ware bowl (bottom view), brass inlaid with copper and silver:



And a Medieval Syrian or Persian horse stirrup, iron inlaid with silver and gold:

 

Damascene is gold and silver inlaid and hammered into blackened steel, as aj says. Toledo Ware looks like it but is pressed and stamped brass. I've never seen a figural insect in it. Very well made. Might be plated but with that quality might even be gold.

 

Spanish gold of that age would be hallmarked.

 

What age do you think AJ?

 

I want stirrup irons inlaid with silver and gold
Mine are just stainless steel

 

I think mid to late 20th century.

 

Of course you do. Mine is just the one though, I guess the other one was too damaged and just gave up. Or it was for a one-legged man.

 

@Any Jewelry and @Ownedbybear is this piece damascene? This was my Mum's

 

off to bling mine up with some cheap Swarovski and Uhu.......

 

It is Thai niello in silver. Also called Siam niello.
Niello is silver oxide and some other stuff mixed in.

 

@sassafras I have just scratched the surface. Really
I have a room full of treasures to sort through. The hardest part is working out what to keep and what to sell!!

 

WHat is this "sell" of which you speak?

 

I know the feeling well! Bought a big plastic tote full of jewelry Friday night. Don't even know what's in it yet, but at $100 for 40 POUNDS of goodies I figured I couldn't go wrong! Going to be a while before I tackle that hoard, but have a feeling there's hidden treasure in there.

 

I'm a bit torn to be truthful. There are some pieces I loooooove and will wear (already wear) so those pieces are a no brainer. There are other pieces I can't imagine wearing and yet reading the feedback from you all some of those pieces are special. I don't want to keep things locked away. I think I would prefer to sell some pieces to people who will appreciate them more than me. I hope Gran has her hands over her ears

 

Oh my goodness. Please let me know if you need a hand unpacking. That's my vision of heaven

 

One bit of advice. Take your time deciding. I did when my Pa died about what things to keep and what not. I changed my mind a few times and I'm rather glad of that.