Here Is A Stumper Sterling Piece

Any Ideas? I've had this very odd, unevenly shaped, sterling silver item floating around for years. It's been posted on other sites with no help. It's a part or piece to something obviously, but what? I can tell you that it does not "appear" to be broken or bent out of shape. Appears to have been made just the way it is except maybe a little bending on the two outer (pin?) holes. It may have something to do with a watch band is all I can think of. Even the little scrolls are different sized. A quick search didn't reveal the BB maker yet either. Berman Brothers has a similar mark inside a triangle, don't know if they ever marked anything without a triangle though. Here are the pics at different angles and such...

 

Patent Pending, so something functional, not just decorative. Does look like part of a clasp or clip.

 

I agree with all that.

 

The BB is in the form of Bayardi Brothers - Chicago jewelers - 1920s

 

Those circular holes usually mean it was meant to be sewn onto something. I think perhaps a sash buckle.

Debora

 

I agree with the clasp/clip concept. I have seen similar devices in the interiors of vanity purses, card cases and cigarette cases. The angled flange in the center may have been to act as leverage instead of a spring mechanism. The holes on the sides may have been to secure the clip to the case. Can't offer an explanation for the holes on either side of the flange.

 

Well there goes my theory of maybe something for a musical instrument!!!! Hey!!!! Nobody else knows!!!!

 

Not sure I'm correctly following which holes are which, so may just be repeating your idea. The small holes symmetrically placed at the sides I think would have accommodated the pin of a hinge mechanism. The larger, asymmetrically placed holes were for attaching to the larger body of whatever & something about the shape of the thing required the asymmetry. Maybe the flange allowed the other piece (my hypothesis would make this the fixed side) to stay up when open rather than snapping back down on its own?

 

May not be this one, but shows Armand Bayardi was giving some thought to this sort of thing.

 

My thoughts exactly.
Maybe someone is looking for old Bayardi parts and findings?

 

Terry's reply led me to this site, very useful:

http://chicagosilver.com/marks_master_list.htm

 

That was my secret bookmark from like 10 years ago. Now I'm gonna have to find a new one.

But what's it do?

 

Size? Looks like part of a box latch.

 

As a kid I loved their ravioli.

 

belt buckle...

 

Aaron, many long years ago, I had a client in Washington, DC who was the grandson of Chef Boyardee! Their name was actually Boiardi...

 

It's definitely the clip off of SOMETHING. Not a dress clip - no prongs. Scarf clip maybe. As for that belt piece, I'd throw some cord through those holes and call it solved. Instant necklace.

 

The buckle looking thingy is actually a Marsala pendant.