Featured Brooch with miniature painting - age?

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by aaroncab, May 14, 2017.

  1. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    This was in a jewelry box I won at an auction a few months back. To my untrained eye this seems victorian? Or am I way off? The painting seems to have a layer of clear shellac or lacquer over it - I do believe it to actualy be a small painting. Small child or putto playing a flute. The frame/brooch is about 1 1/4" and the painting is about 5/8".

    ~

    34624371966_f46dff8194_k.jpg 34664885135_96f9915f5d_k.jpg 33822705544_1f8d5701ba_k.jpg 34503212442_0bc0944fcb_k.jpg
     
  2. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Do you see any dots when you look at it through a loupe? Dots mean at least partial transfer printing. It's Victorian for certain, regardless.
     
  3. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    Hi Evely, no dots in my 12x magnifier. I'll try to post a magnified pic.
     
    Figtree3 likes this.
  4. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    good pics....
    the barrel on the pin is usually found on straight stick pins...and i think is an addition here..
     
    aaroncab likes this.
  5. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    Yup, that back is late 19th C. It may have been done by a hobby painter. Did you test for silver?
     
    aaroncab likes this.
  6. Figtree3

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

    Lovely! I agree that the barrel-shaped guard did not come with it originally. Due to its size I think it would be very difficult to close the clasp around clothing fabric if that guard was there. (I know this from personal experience with a brooch that I own.) Don't know if the word "guard" is correct, but they do guard against pins falling off.

    I love this, though. :)
     
    aaroncab and komokwa like this.
  7. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    Charming, and yes 1880s-90s. And worth checking for silver as Obb suggested.
    In those days they wouldn't have used a barrel-guard, because the end of the pin would have been stuck back into the fabric on the other end of the C-clasp.
     
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  8. Aquitaine

    Aquitaine Is What It IS! But NEVER BORED!

    WHAT a NEAT little pin!!!!! I LOVE SMALLheart.png the painting!!!!!
     
    aaroncab likes this.
  9. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    Makes sense - was on there when I obtained it. I'll probably leave it off now. Thanks!
     
    komokwa likes this.
  10. aaroncab

    aaroncab in veritate victoria

    I need to get a silver test kit, or take it somewhere it can be tested... for now I know it is not attracted to a strong magnet, so that's a good sign.
     
  11. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    I'd leave the guard where it is; that's been on there an awfully long time. They turn up on other pins of the same era. Odds are good it's silver.
     
    aaroncab likes this.
  12. Poisonivy

    Poisonivy Well-Known Member

    It's so very pretty, The painting is lovely.
     
    aaroncab likes this.
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