Featured Gold? Grouse foot 15ct

Browsing the (outrageously expensive) antiques fair this morning I came across this grouse foot brooch in a box of base metal scrap brooches.
I normally steer clear of these as they are creepy and moth eaten. I suspect this has ‘things’ living in it so it’s isolated in a plastic bag!!.
It’s marked 15c and annoyingly I’ve run out of acid to test it but do you think there is a likelihood it could be gold?. Not magnetic so that’s a start!.
No great loss if it isn’t at £5.
I only ask as
a) I’ve only ever seen these in silver
b) really what are the chances of a pro missing that it’s gold?
c) should it have a full hallmark?
Does the clasp or the 15c date it at all as 15c is not the norm in the UK.Or was it at one time?
Thanks for looking

 

Yes, 15ct is an old UK gold fineness. No need for a full hallmark.
It is nicely made, looks 1880s, but not my cup of tea.

 

Nor mine!
It won’t be a keeper.
Great news it doesn’t need a full hallmark

 

All Victorian Scottish pieces in 15ct gold seems to be far more unusual than the sterling ones and more sought after But a grouse foot or otter paw are less appealing than agate or granit

Will you sell it?

 

This moth has flown

 

Yes. Being honest I only bought it as cheap gold and not for its aesthetic value!
I don’t begin to know how to value 15c though. Do I just put it on eBay and let it find it’s price?

 

Ah, so that is why I’ve not seen one!.

 

Thankyou

 

I think it might be just a tad earlier than 1880s.
Personally, I find things like this really cool.

Do you sell on ebay? It might bring some big bucks.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Charivari-...224601?hash=item56d0244219:g:WB0AAOSw63td2Hj~

 

Omg, that is bizarre and quite sad!. What is it the snout of?.
Yes, I do sell on eBay so I think that is where I will aim it. What clues do you use to date something like this?

 

Real thing, old hinge, might be a tad earlier than the 1880s. I've picked things up from pros before who missed them.

 

I don't know, Germans still wear their charivaris with their regional costumes and collect German and Austrian made charivaris. And they wear silver mounted charivaris, because that is traditional.
It is a different market, they are not interested in Scottish jewellery, because it doesn't go with their costume.

 

Let's hope for an interested Scotsman who doesn't mind wildlife in his kilt!

 

A conservator's trick. If you are concerned about active insects, wrap it well in linen or cotton, and put in the freezer for 14 days.

 

And don't mistake it for food.

I used to do that until our freezer became too stuffed with food. No room for antiques now.

 

Mine was, until recently, filled with rodents and birds the cats had "offered" us. I have a friend who makes skull jewelry.