Featured Inherited Brooch no markings

Hi, I inherited this from my Grandmother, she was born in Kansas 1900, British heritage. I remember her wearing it on her blazer lapel as far back as I can remember. I regret not asking the history of it while she was still alive. No markings I can see. 3"x 1.5"

 

That looks bench-made almost. Possible custom work; big factories didn't do the fancy stuff in the back. I expected it to be a dress or fur clip (two pointy spikes instead of one, and no clasp) instead of a pin. If the maker didn't sign it, and he deserved a spanking for THAT, you may never find out whodunnit. Unless a historical society in her hometown has records of local businesses?

 

It's lovely

 

Thank you, ya, I have never seen jewelry with all that craziness behind it! I guess I should have added my Grandparents moved to California (Los Angeles) in the 1920's so it could be from anywhere.

 

I have, and that one wasn't signed either, but it was sterling. I'd check the metal on this. If it's mixed odds go way up on it being done by a local maker.

 

Those stones look like 1930s/Deco era blue for sure. Either the brooch is from then or during WWII when they used what they could find. Most glass bits came from Czechoslovakia and none came here from there during WWII or for a while afterward. Unless some GI found a factory and liberated a bag or two! I can see that happening if Dad or a family member made jewelry.

 

I lightened it up for the mark hunters.

 

I've seen that kind of frame back on 30s Austrian pieces. Not the twiddly wires so much. I agree it may well be silver. Almost looks as though it's a marriage.

 

Sure looks like a (sterling) HOBE brooch. The style is very similar. The only thing throwing me off is the back, but could be in the style of HOBE if not the real deal.

 

OMG you were right! I have never heard of Hobe so I looked on ebay, and lookie what I found! Same swirly back!

 

Ah, was just posting this one here from Ebay, too. HOBE did a lot with sterling and 1/20th 14K gold, with similar leaves and flowers, and often they had a few larger rhinestones as features. Some have a more plain looking back, but here is one with the swirls.

(Photos taken from auction below).

https://www.ebay.com/itm/203780906841?hash=item2f7249df59:g:o9MAAOSweuZh01eh




Back:

 

Awesome! Sure am glad I found you guys!

 

That would be it! I've never seen a Hobè piece that old.

 

Hello @LittleLACollector & welcome to the forum!!

That is a truly wonderful piece of jewelry. It does need a little bit of rubbing with a Sunshine cloth though to make it shine.

I wonder if it originally had one of those little triangle markings that fell off at some point.

 

Looks like the piece has been damaged and some what repaired.

 

Nice sleuthing! We don't get Hobe much here. I'd think it lost its tag.

 

I don't see any damage, do you mean the twisty wires? We discovered that some older pieces were made that way.

 

Looks like solder areas where they don't belong,lower circle area was"repaired" maybe.

 

Might just be small spots of light tarnish on LittleLA's brooch?

I had to dig through my things but realized I have a Hobe brooch very similar.