Posted 7 years ago
leese
(12 items)
Acquired this intricate/interesting piece a couple of years ago from a 92 year old lifelong antique collector. Unfortunately it is not a signed piece so I'm not sure when or where it was made. A silversmith and jewelry maker I know says it is very old and the synthetic opal was "created old school method"
I really like that it can be worn as a pin/brooch and it also has a loop to be worn on a chain.
Does anyone have any guesses as to who designed and/or when, where this piece might have been made?
This is really superb! A shame that it's not marked, as this brooch/pendant is a work of art. Not really possible to positively ID a maker. Rollover catches came into use right around 1900. The claw shaped prongs date it to somewhere within the first 25 years of 1900.
It is very interesting! Lucky find!
I hope you asked your jewelry expert what "old school method" means exactly. This is a very nice well made piece and two U.S.makers come to mind who used that metal and stone setting: Art and Florenza: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SIGNED-FLORENZA-OPAL-GLASS-GREEN-RHINESTONES-PEARLS-FILIGREE-BROOCH-PIN-/351521996830?roken=cUgayN&nma=true&si=M%252F%252FQyFmTIzkCEP7cJzZzKriaOvo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
BUT: their pieces in that style are newer and the backs are different (Art has been around a long time and I don't know if their early pieces were all signed, so don't rule them out without further research).
There are other unsigned pieces floating around unattributed, e.g.:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/463851004/opal-art-glass-rhinestones-brooch-pin-3?ref=related-5
Another helpful lead could be looking into West Germany; the technique is similar and they often used art glass and filigree backs.