Featured Broken Victorian Puff Brooch

I have a strange compassion for broken pieces of jewelry. I feel like when a piece of jewelry shows wear, it tells a story (or at least allows me to invent one in my head). Also, I want to learn how to repair and repurpose pieces of jewelry.

I picked up this Victorian brooch for 50 cents today. As you can see, part of the gilding has flaked away to expose the brown (resin?) surface below. The pin is also absent. Is there a way to repair the gilding to hide the flaw and replace the pin? Am I the only one who likes to buy worthless things?

 

It's not gilding,the piece was die stamped with extremely thin metal and then filled with pitch to make "solid" and reduce smashing.

@kyratango
may have some suggestions

 

Could the back have been made with a different metal than the front?
It looks like gold to me, but it's tarnished. Do you think it might have some gold content.

 

It was probably originally gold filled. A sweet little piece but trying to restore it will cost you way more than it would be worth even if in pristine condition. Best to let this one go

 

Do you have a Sunshine cloth? Might try a little rub down on the back and see if it cleans up.

 

there are times when you gotta save a nice old piece from the junk pile........

Buy ME next !!!!

 

@Barn Owl

I totally forgot a technique,the brain is too full of information and the answer can take a few days at times. Not sure of your experience or what you want to spend on a repair such as you have.The answer is electroforming which has been used to make jewelry in Israel for a number of years.

https://www.google.com/search?q=ele...UmxVQKHfGoC6cQ_AUICSgA&biw=1554&bih=870&dpr=1

 

if found in Germany then most probably Schaumgold.

 

@Fid

The translation of Schaumgold is foil,but many of the examples are thicker metal. Do you know the thickness of the metal commonly used mm/gauge.

https://www.gessweincanada.com/category-s/11324.htm

 

Germans and Austrians generally sell this as Schaumgold, but many have their own definitions of the term. Some don't realise it is actually gold, which is good for buyers. Consequently I have a box full of them, I also like them very much. Sooo, you're not the only one who buys 'worthless' things.

It is as Holly said, sheet metal, usually gold. Yours looks silver backed, if so it is pretty safe to say the front is gold. My Schaumgold jewellery tests between ca 14-22k, so not bad.
If you polish the back you will see if it is silver, if so, probably ca .800 or .835.

These brooches were generally made in Germany and Austria (etc) during the Biedermeier period, from ca 1840-1860. So not really Victorian, because Victoria never ruled that part of the world.

Many Biedermeier brooches were converted to pendants, which is what I would do with yours. The C-clasp is still intact, just close it very carefully with pliers and add a bail to it. When you work on something like this, remember it is fragile.
As to the front, clean it up, and kyratise. Kyra has already been tagged, she will put her thinking cap on and no doubt come up with a brilliant solution.

 

If mine, I'd spray it with windex, (not soaking...) filled the gap with gesso or self hardening modeling paste, egalize the surface, and rub with tiny amount of appropiate gold color "Rub'n Buff" Amaco metallic wax then buff to shining gold effect
Though the hinge is still present, it is a pain to find a convenient replacement needle part So, you could only carefully bend the C clasp and add a bale to wear it as a pendant.

 

Haha, AJ, was typing while you answered Great spirits meets

 

Some one has already made it wearable as a pendant. See #1
Looks like it can be hung in either direction, horizontal or vertical.
See #2 - looks like "C" has been closed into a circle.

Just needs a jump ring added so a chain can be used.

 

Most of those brooches have that, it is usually too delicate for a jump ring for a necklace, which is why I didn't suggest it. It was used for very thin safety chains with pins.
The C-clasp is sturdier.

 

@Barn Owl , you asked whether anybody else has bought damaged jewelry items on purpose. I have! Except usually have not tried to fix them. I especially remember an oval-shaped brooch in a brass setting, made in China. It was covered in glued-on beads that looked like pearls but most likely were not. Many of the beads were missing when I bought it. But I liked the way it looked! -- This happened years ago.

 

I'd list it as Puffbrosche on ebay.de.

 

Don't lead the boy astray!

 

I'll have to keep my eyes open for more of these! I have a couple puff pendants I've found, but I don't think they're gold or as old.

Thanks! I'll try that .