Featured Help with intaglio brooch/pendant please

Hi, hoping someone can give me some info on this gorgeous think I found in a charity shop recently. It's a reverse carved and painted butterfly - and from the form and subject, I'm guessing Victorian or at least trying to emulate Victorian and their love of insects. The disc is 3cm in diameter and is mottled looking a bit like tortoiseshell. Thanks in advance for any relevant info.

 

Can you get a better photo of the back with the whole clasp and hinge please?

 

Hi Ownedbybear - there was another photo which for some reason hadn't shown up - it's now at the top, does that do the trick? thanks

 

it does, ta. The back is no older than the thirties. I think this might be shell.

 

I agree with obb's dating.
I don't think it is carved shell, however. I've not seen shell carved into (intaglio-style), only carved cameo-style... but WDIK.
An early faux tortoiseshell? Or tortoiseshell itself?

 

It's too chiny and translucent for tortoise, I'd say.

 

nice photo's...

 

It's emulating victorian, a retro piece, not tortoise shell based on the pieces I own. I would not be surprised if it was made from a resin of some type.

 

Thanks, I did wonder if it was faux tortoiseshell.

 

Thanks, I had a feeling it wasn't actually Victorian - I have a few gold Victorian pendants and they're so much more refined.

 

Thanks, resin is a distinct possibility. It has a plasticy quality to it

 

Thanks

 

I was about to ask if it felt cool or warm. It might be glass.

 

Definitely do the temperature test. If compared to glass it's warm, wondering if this could be a celluloid-like plastic? Reminds me a bit of those carved celluloid bangles from the 40s. It's very cool and really unusual.

 

It might be lucite, true.