This looks very Eisenberg to me but what is the X.

Hi!
I was trying to look this piece up and the more I look at the one mark the more I think I see an E. Also, what is the Roman X for?

Opinions on this beauty, please and ty!!

 

maybe a flawed item , as it looks like where the pin clasp is attached....there was a break causing one of the stones to be missing...

 

I don’t see evidence of it being broken. The exterior is smooth. Are you saying that because it is shorter?
Thanks

 

the exterior as u call it...may be smooth...but to my eye...it is unfinished ...
all the others have sharp corners and two stones....
that one looks like a blob....as if melted by the heat for the clasp..

 

Ah! I understand now. Ty

 

Komo is right, the metal didn't flow into the mold all the way on that one feature, hence the "X" mark. Meant ship it to a five and dime store - rather than a brandname department store - to sell for less. I've seen similar done with glass works too.

I'm sorry, I don't know if it is Eisenberg. Hard to imagine a fabricator of any brand would set the stones in a flawed backing, but I do believe this to be the case.

 

Are you sure that stamp doesn't read "sterling"? If I squint, it looks like that to me.

 

I'm having trouble from the photos reading exactly what is written other than the X. I think I see "sterling" too. Gauntlett,, can you confirm exactly what is written on the back? Thanks.

 

I see sterling too,

 

Same here no squint required. That dates this 1942-1952 or so - for a while the manufacturers couldn't get brass, and then kept using silver sometimes for a while later.

 

It’s is marked Sterling So the X means it’s flawed. Dag nabbit. And the other mark kinda runs off the pin. The more I look, the more I see an uppercase fancy E I searched it and found a few Eisenbergs that closely resembled but not a 100% match. Was hoping

 

Ty!!! Great info I am always learning.

 

it's still lovely..

 

I think so as well. Ty!!

 

Update: was reading through some stuff on Eisenberg and someone else had a question about the X. The answer given was that it was used to identify the stone setter. What are your thoughts on this? Anyone else ever hear of that?

 

Unlikely, but it could be an identifier of the design.

 

https://gem.app/product/early-1940s-eisenberg-sterling-brooch

 

seriously good find........a feather in your cap !!!

 

seems you're right about the X

 

and I was wrong about any damage.........

live.....& learn !!!