Posted 12 years ago
vetraio50
(751 items)
Six months ago I commented on an item from scottvez:
QUIZ and show and tell of Sterling pin
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/45027-quiz-and-show-and-tell-of-sterling-pin
I mentioned there that: “My grandmother had a cat's eye brooch here in Oz! I think I have it somewhere.”
And here it is! I found it the other day in ‘the shed’. It is the only piece of my grand-mother Agnes Maude O’Reilly’s jewellery that remains. Her father was an Englishman in the Indian Army of the Raj and her mother was an “Indian Princess” from Mumbai according to the family gossip.
I was given this by my Mum as a keep-sake and the rest went to my sister. Unfortunately my sister was robbed and all of the family stuff went with the thief that day thirty years ago! Stuff from both sides of the family all went with her/him.
There’s a message here: Spread the family stuff around a bit.
To put family stuff in one person’s hands can be a mistake.
I had two pieces that belonged to my grandfather. I still have one of them. The other is already in the hands of a younger cousin who has his name (Maurice) and he has children to boot!
It’s a 9 carat gold brooch/pin with the ‘operculum’ , ‘cat’s eye’ or "Shiva's eye". Maudie wore it every day on her lapel when she left home in a jacket. It was her “good luck, evil eye mojo jewel".
It's not to be confused with the stone called a cat's eye.
It's the 'operculum' of a mollusc: Turbo smaragdus/petholatus etc or Turban snails. It's the animal form of a 'hatch' and nicely is the same round or oval shape of a submarine's breech/hatch. Nature's design copied by man.
Many thanks young Sean!
Vetraio, I agree with you on "spreading" it around, only, keep it in "groups".
Many thanks Hedge, miKKo and mikie too!
Many thanks all: inky, Amber, czechman, Newtimes, musikchoo and to Marc too!
Many thanks miKKo,
Many thanks thriftfan!
The story of the family jewels breaks my heart, I have a similar tale to lament.
I love the simplicity of this beautiful piece, thanks for posting it.
Many thanks Budek!
Many thanks my mate Marty!
Many thanks ttomtucker and mustangtony too!
Thanks again TTOMTUCKER!
Many thanks NADIA!
What an amazing story and how sad that almost everything was robbed. :(
When my grandmother (dad's mom) died, my grandfather gave all her things to my aunt... None of us got anything!! I always wished I had a piece of jewelry to pass to my daughter.
Thank you for these kind words Nadia.
Many thanks TONINO!
Many thanks FREIHEIT!
Oh yes I remember this beautiful Jewel and very stunning!
Thanks yet again SEAN!
Your very welcome Kevin:)
Many thanks AGHCOLLECT!
Many thanks AURA !!!!!!
Many thanks MELANIEJ !!!!
Many thanks RADEGRUNDER !!!!!!
Many thanks BETWEENTHELENS & RADEGRUNDER !!! !! ! !! !!!
Great post vet! Loved the story and you're right, it could be gone forever if in only one persons hand! Good tip!
Many thanks SHAREURPASSION & SWAMPDOGG !!!
Many thanks THOMAS !!!!
Many thanks MARTIKA !!! ! !!!