Posted 11 years ago
Newtimes
(306 items)
Well I must admit. I'm so very lazy I don't want to make new pictures. So this is once again a pic I had for some time.
Sorry, I have no picture from the back.
I got this magnificent brooch a year ago on a flea market. It measures about 7 cm, so its big.
The material is ivory (you can tell the difference between ivory and bone by looking at the grain). Ivory has a cross hatching pattern of the grain.
You can easily see it on this site:
http://www.antiquegamblingchips.com/distinguish_iv_bon_cel.htm
The brooch has a small hole in the bottom. I presume the piece of ivory was put on a 'stick' to carve the face out.
It is signed in the back 'ngele', this carving was crudely done.
The clasp of the brooch was missing when I bought it.
So can anyone help me identifying the maker or the date? Belgium had a colony in Congo some decades ago so I assume its made in that region.
Thanks a lot!
Thanks much for the resource! If you have a chance, look in the book, European designer jewelry by G. Moro, it has an African bust carved from ivory that came from Belgian Congo for the international Colonial Expo in Paris 1931 (p. 235)
Thanks davy286 for the info. I will search the book.
Thanks BELLIN68, toolate2 and mustangtony for loving it
Thanks Agram.m and valentino97 once again for loving my jewelry.
There's one example here, but I think yours is better quality.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/76021214/pre-ban-ivory-carved-brooch-from-the
Thanks for the link davyd286. Still a nice piece