Pictured above and below is this week's MYSTERY OBJECT.
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It measures just under three inches by two and a half inches, and is made of metal. I'm not absolutely certain what its original purpose was, although I know of two possibilities. It was made into a brooch (probably in late Victorian times) for a lady, and Ann frequently uses it for that purpose on the lapel of a dark coat. There's a bit of a story about that, which I can't tell you now because it would give the game away somewhat.
I would like you to tell me please, when it was made, where it was made, and the material of which it was made; and possibly the name of the decorating technique, although I shall be pleasantly surprised if anyone gets that right. And perhaps you could give a guess as to its original purpose. Your ideas may corroborate my opinion as to the purpose.
Over to you.
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7 comments:
I think I'm going for a repousée silver box lid of the 18th century probably decorated in niello work from Tula in Russia or just possibly Kiev - unless your deceptive photographic techniques are disguising a cocquilla-nut or tortoise-shell box lid decorated with repousée silver niello work from Tula in Russia.
Hi Carl. Suggest you have a look at today's (Monday's) blog entry. I've put up a photo of the reverse side of the object to show that it's no form of repoussee work (I've spelled repoussee with a double 'ee' because my machine dislikes foreign accents).
Explanation time.
I bought Ann this brooch about fifteen years ago, knowing it was part of an earlier artifact.
This type of metal decoration used to be known as 'silver on russett iron', which is as good a description as I can come up with.
It was made around the year 1630 in England in all probability although a good many other European Countries were capable of making it late in the same century. Basically it is a piece of iron with silver decoration built up on it. The silver being attached, I would guess, by silver soldering to the iron base. The iron would then have been artificially rusted (or russetted) and the silver polished to contrast with the iron.
The promised story : A few years after we purchased it, we were viewing (rather aptly) an early metalware sale at one of the major salerooms, when a director of the room (who we knew quite well) spotted the brooch on Ann's left lapel. He then picked Ann up by said lapels the closer to examine the brooch, and said to her "But that's early seventeenth century!"
Ann came up with exactly the right answer :-
"I know it is. Put me down please". (I've always held that the only other possible answer would have been "Unhand me, Sir.")
However, Ann's answer answered perfectly well, because the man was covered in confusion, and apologised profusely and prettily, pleading BOYISH enthusiasm about the item as his only excuse for picking up lady customers and waggling them about.
Chronologically he is about as boyish as I am.
Original purpose of the item :- Our lady waggling friend thinks that it started life as the lid of a sweetmeat (?) box. I think it might have been the inset shell guard of a sword hilt. I know of several similarly decorated weapons of the first quarter of the seventeenth century.
I think that's covered everything... Except perhaps to say that I quite understand Rog's reference to sporrans. It reminds me of the plaid brooches that were part of highland dress, although I don't know of one as early as this.
See what you mean about the inset shell guard, Mike. I was thinking of rapier fittings but not seeing a blade-shaped hole in the artifact I became entrapped in the box-lid line of thought.
Surprisingly, modern technology has come up with 3D-Printing as a method of bringing unexpected combinations of materials together to form real objects to highly precise tolerances. Iron is pretty resistant to any form of soldering cooler than brazing, I wonder if the pattern was brazed onto the iron before being silver-soldered?
Crowbard. I can't see any sign of brass on the brooch. I was talking of silver soldering, NOT lead soldering. Although given a good, close fit and the proper flux, I've never found any real problem with lead soldering iron.
It would make a lovely buckle for a nursing Sister's belt - if only they wore proper uniform these days instead of those sloppy pyjamas.
Hello Pat. I made Ann's nursing buckle in silver, when she got her first sister's post around 1980. She quite agrees with you re nursing uniform. You should hear her on the subject!!!!
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