Featured Dragon brooch 925. Anyone good with pin backs to help date?

Part of a recent treasure find (same sale where I got the onyx/gold Victorian cross.)

I actually didn't realize it was a dragon (or whatever the animal is) until I got it home. Looking down at it, sort of looks snake-like, only in the profile of the front to you see the head.

Marked 925. Does the closure mechanism in the back date it at all? Any info at all, date, country of origin, appreciated. Not sure whether this is old or newer. Thoughts?

 

It is gorgeous, Lucille.
It is a classic Naga brooch from Bali, Indonesia. The Indonesian Naga is a cross between a snake and a dragon.
The gold is genuine gold. Dating by pin is different for these beauties than for Western jewellery, my guess is 1960s-70s.
Unfortunately these are often listed as Chinese.

 

Beautiful. On the third photo of the back. On the bottom left side there is a word. Last letters look like INS or INSS. Can you see if there are any other letters. There are numbers before the word.

 

Isn't that the 925 mark?

 

I thought the 925 mark is under the pin where the c part of the clasp is.

 

You're right. I had temporarily lost my sense of direction.

 

BDC have to hang together.

 

Are you sure those aren't the snake's skin marks?
This style and period Balinese jewellery generally doesn't have maker's marks. I think that started with Suarti, whose style is different.

 

Just back home. I'll take a look. Thanks!

 

Thanks to all who took a look.

Here are a few more pics after I did a quick polish. I'm not seeing anything written (wasn't sure where you meant, Kiko. Did you mean the spot in the last photo?) It did sort of look like something, but when I polished it and looked through a loupe, thinking maybe just a spot from construction. But good to point that out, thanks.

Forgot to mention that the silver on this is pretty thin. It is a light weight pin, I could easily bend it for example.

I'm not seeing anything quite like this online. I'm sure there must be others out there, so if anyone spots similar, shoot me a link. Thanks.

 

It's light weight because because the tail and head are hollow.

 

LOVE IT !!! ... Joy.

 

Even taking that into account, it the silver in the body is exceptionally thin -- most sterling brooches I have I couldn't easily bend. I would say that a 3 year old could bend this. Probably argues for it being maybe less valuable, didn't know if was relevant.

 

Lucillle. It was @ulilwitch that saw something that looked like letters. Perhaps she can clarify based on your new pictures. Regarding the weight, I make sure any pin I buy is lightweight because I put them on lighter weight clothes and not on jackets or heavier and more sturdy clothing. They aren't inexpensive just better for lighter fabrics in my opinion.

 

nice, just out of interest do we know what the red stone is ?

 

Oops. Thanks.

I'm thinking carnelian.

 

I thought it looks more garnet looking

My first thought was slytherin !!

 

Hi,
It is beautiful and for some reason looks like a hooded cobra to me.
greg

 

Sorry I wasn't back on until now. This is what I see. Maybe it's just me.