Featured Need some help Identifying this Brooch.

Hi Guys!

Its been a while. But I'm back. Im looking for some info or all info on this brooch. It looks silver to me but I have no idea. It does have a very thin gold rope decoration around the silver bezel. It also has the numbers 825 on the back as well as a symbol that looks like a star with the numbers 372 NA. The back story on this is I found it with-in my late uncles items. He had a little Antique store in Jersey City NJ and has since passed. Now Im finally getting to cleaning out the contents of his store. Hence why I have not posted on here in such a long time. Any help would be gladly appreciated!!! Thanks

 

Calling @Bronwen

 

Is it 825 or 925?

 

I see 925, the fineness mark for sterling silver. The number with NA indicates the Neapolitan jewellery company who set this helmet shell cameo, which was no doubt cut in a workshop right there in Naples.

She is not anyone in particular. I call her Ponytail Girl. Very popular, she turns up in both man made materials & natural shell. This one is probably from the 1950s.

 

She's very pretty. Thanks, Bronwen.

 

Wow Bronwen!! I just looked at it again, you have a great eye. It is a 925!!! Wow!! And Thank You so much for the information. Is it safe to assume when you say Naples, you mean Naples Italy? and just out of curiosity and I hate to ask this but any idea what the value is on these are? Thanks again!!!

 

Hey antidiem, She really is.. This piece really peaked my interest after being found at the bottom of a card board box!! One I first found it I thought part of it was discolored. after doing some research I guess the difference in color on her bow is normal...

 

You just having my going down a rabbit hole.now Bronwen I love it! I'm searching for.info on Neapolitan jewellery company but can't find any... any info on who or what they were?

 

925 after looking at it for a 10th time

 

!! indeed. Keeping shell cameos in cardboard boxes is conducive to Byne's Disease. Don't do it.

The shell has alternating layers of white & orange. The tinge of orange is from the next layer of orange after the white used for most of the figure. It's done more in hardstone, where the layers can be thicker:

 

We have members who seem to be able to find lists of Italian jewellers by their number; I'm not one of them. Being able to put a name to the maker is not likely to change the value, which is modest.

 

What is the number? It is a bit blurry.

 

Thanks again Bronwen, I'm just looking for my own personal knowledge. I just like learning these things.

 

Hi the number is 925

 

Thanks Lando, that is the fineness, 925 means it is sterling silver.
What I need is the number on the right, next to NA. That is the registration number of the maker.

 

Checking eBay sold/completed items shows that similar quality cameos generally sell for under $50 US... if they sell at all.

 

Oh, my apologies, It has a symbol that looks like a star with the number 372 NA.

 

Awesome, Thx Bluumz

 

That's OK. I found it:
Stanislao Tagliamonte in Torre del Greco, near Napels.
Torre del Greco is famous for cameo carving. So a locally carved cameo, most likely mounted by the same company.
Some more info, they have since moved to Vicenza:

https://www.tagliamonte.com/our-story

 

The star number region marking was instituted in 1968 so the frame was made then or more recently. I did a quick look for number 372 in Naples but could not find a list with a number that high. Sorry