Featured Brooch & Pendants

I quite like the first piece that similar to the Etsy link. Unlike anything I've seen in the states. Charming. Also LOVE the iris glass one.

 

Excellent idea! Thanks for that.

 

If you have them, translucent milk jugs work a treat, either 2-liter or 4-liter. (gallon jug in the USA) Just cut the bottom off, put a piece of white paper down, and shoot through the neck. It's an old American jewelry dealer trick for avoiding shadows and harsh lighting. Most USAians don't have light tents, but most drink milk or juice that comes in those jugs. If they don't, a neighbor will.

 

More brooches arrived today
Received them when the sunlight had gone, so not the best pics (again ), but I couldn't wait until tomorrow to show them and ask for info

First, a Dutch brooch.

I know the maker's mark is for Zilverstad, but the rest isn't very clear.
Lion for 2nd standard silver, Minerva head and a C for 1987?


And this one

Marked Plato, and another mark that I'm unable to understand what it says

 

To me Plato would mean it's either "Metal" or silver; I don't know which, but I'd test for silver just in case. Plata is "silver" in Spanish. Is the setting Portuguese?

 

In Portuguese "silver" would be "prata".

 

From the same maker as this one?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/353512946968

Seller mentions Plato,
"Filigree CleAntique Brooch with Square Rubies "Plato" Double Spain?"
but it isn't clear if it's mentioned as the maker's name or something else. No mark/name visible in the photos.

 

I don't know when the Zilverstad mark was first used, frankly I never heard of Zilverstad as a brand, I only know it as the nickname of the silver town of Schoonhoven. Is it a collective mark of the lesser known makers?

Not knowing the Zilverstad brand, but looking at the style and at the inclination of the C, I wonder if it is the 1937 year letter.

Btw, with brooches please always post a photo the back with the entire pin, so we know how to date the brooch.
I pulled this one from an Etsy listing, and assume the back on your brooch is the same:


https://www.etsy.com/nl/listing/536815972/vintage-zilveren-broche-zilverstad

The seller dates it as 1987, but the style of the pin suggests 1930s. Yours and theirs could be replicas, and the pin was also replicated. That is unusual though.

 

Typical plated photo brooch from the early 20th century. When photography became widely accessible, a cheap version of the age old miniature portraits also became widely accessible.
German jewellery factories started the trend, and nearly all of these brooches are indeed German.

I think you should look in Greek philosophical circles.

The diamond shape suggests a French maker, but it could just as easily be German, since nearly all are. Don't worry if you can't find the maker. Given the multitude of these brooches, knowing the maker won't add to the value.

 

I think it's this:

Google thought the same, as the search for 'plato brooches' resulted in a list of brooches and other jewelry with an image of Plato

 

Could you add the link please?

 

That was my intention, and still forgot to add it ...
Here it is:
http://www.gzu-online.com/index2.ph...d=&jl=&keyword=zilverstad&dd_from=1885&dd_to=

 

Thanks. So a relatively new brooch made entirely in the old way.
I see they are called "Zilverstad Schoonhoven b.v.", so it is the name of an independent manufacturer.