Featured How Old Is My Butterfly?

Hello
Can someone please help me date this butterfly and perhaps point me in the direction of county of origin.
It is stamped KN 900 and is 2 inches high and 2 inches from the top wing tips across.
It's a very delicate piece.
Thank you.

 

Filigree is a whole world... Several countries have a long tradition of making it, maybe @Any Jewelry will know.
For the age, the brooch system isn't older than mid century IMO. Still made now, but that filigree work is better than modern I think!

 

Great! Thanks @kyratango.

 

It is a beauty, Tracey. Not just your average filigree, amazing work.
Filigree is extremely difficult to pinpoint, and it has no country-specific mark.
But it could be an older Djokja/Yogya piece, from Kota Gede in Central Java, Indonesia. The quality is certainly Djokja-worthy, and Kota Gede makers ususally had a two initial mark.
Before the 1960s they used different finenesses, including 900.
Not all Djokja 900 marked pieces from that period are actually 900 though, some makers 'upgraded' the piece. It is not really all that important in this case, it is silver and beautiful workmanship.

 

Here are some Djokja flower brooches, they have the same rather densely 'packed' filigree loops as your butterfly:


https://www.etsy.com/listing/704307...earch_query=djokja+zilver&ref=sr_gallery-1-23

https://www.etsy.com/nl/listing/728...query=djokja+zilver&ref=sr_gallery-1-10&frs=1

 

Thanks @Any Jewelry. Intetesting. This piece was amongst a mountain of jewellery ( lots and lots of costume and some stunning pieces) left to me and my two sisters by our Grandmother. Our grandparents lived for quite a few years in South America and Grandad travelled regularly for work. Her jewellery collection is incredibly eclectic so perhaps Grandad bought her gifts when he travelled. It is a very pretty piece.

 

Oh. They are stunning!!!!! What is the best way to clean filigree?

 

A bath in mild soapy water, and then a rub with the sunshine cloth you are going to order.
Make sure you rinse the brooch well after its bath, and dry it in a soft towel.

 

Thanks and I have just ordered the cloths off ebay Australia!!!

 

I always thought this sort of filigree work was Indian, don't know why. It is very beautiful, and I would say very old. Treat it carefully - it is very precious - hand-made. Do not overclean and do not rub too much with a cloth - you may pull the wires apart - it is very delicate. Part of its charm is the "antique" look, I think - much nicer than the over-shiny "blingy" look. Enjoy your lovely brooch. Lorna

 

I clean these with Wright's Silver Cream and a very soft toothbrush. The Wright's is meant to work with water so after polishing you wash it off with warm water and dry throughly. I love Sunshine cloths, bit they can't get in the delicate nooks and crannies on filigree.

 

I don't think Tracey's brooch is really dirty, just a bit of tarnish.

 

Thank you everyone for your great feedback. I will be sure to take very good care of it when cleaning.