Featured Rams head brooch

Hi all,

This brooch was in a little joblot I bought at a bootsale over the weekend. I've tried doing some research into it but have so far been unsuccessful.

 

The fact that only the pin stem is made of metal suggests it dates to WWII when there were limitations on metal for non-military use.

Very cool, haven't seen anything quite like it before.

 

Thanks Bronwen, that does make sense about age of it, and I wasn't sure what it was made of but I am now thinking that it could very well be Bakelite because of that.

 

Never seen anything like that either. And assume you know the box has absolutely nothing to do with the brooch or you would have posted a close-up photograph of the printed lining.

Debora

 

If the whole thing is quite light in weight, I would think something like Celluloid; of it feels denser then something more like Bakelite. It has held up very well.

 

Debora, The box is a lovely old H Samuels and isn't the original one for it. I'll post a photo of it in a bit.

Bronwen, it is very lightweight so you maybe right with the Celluloid rather than the Bakelight.

It is in such good condition, only missing one Paste gem. Which I expect I can find a replacement for.

 

The H Samuel Box

 

Looks like some kind of emblem. Or as though it has some meaning.

 

The ram's head motif would be considered Etruscan Revival.

Debora

 

The design is unlike anything I've run across before. How unusual!

No idea why someone would do this, but found myself wondering if the two sections started out together?? They are different colors, maybe different materials, but of course could have been originally made this way. Looks like they tinted the back of the ram's head. Any chance the head section is ivory?

This is what I call a mystery! Is the ram's head glued on, or screwed on? How does it attach?

 

It does seem like the two parts are meant to be together, so I'm assuming that it is all original. The Rams head is glued/fitted onto the other part. No screws etcs

I think it is made up of two different materials, they feel different to touch at least.

The back of the head is painted. My first thought when I saw it was that the head was made of either Ivory or Bone.

Wondering if the black section could represent a Serpent, therefore being a Ramheaded Serpent? Maybe of Celtic design?

 

Bone or ivory was my first thought but looks more plasticy on closer look.

That box is probably worth a good amount. Maybe more than the jewelry. I pick up boxes for next to nothing and have sold a decent amount at $30-$100 or so. I don’t think I’ve listed an old jewelry presentation box that didn’t sell sooner or later.

 

That box isn’t worth much in the U.K., because H Samuel were and still are low end.

 

Ah yeh I was unaware of the status of the brand. I hadn’t heard of them until a piece I posted here was mentioned as being made by them possibly. I don’t recall what piece that was or its quality. In general I do very well on these but if the brand isn’t well regarded that would put a damper on things.

 

H.Samuel are high street jewellers, I don’t think they make any of their own pieces, they just buy in bulk, distribute to their shops and sell to the masses.
And change the odd watch battery!

 

Perhaps you saw this? It's very interesting. https://balkancelts.wordpress.com/2015/07/04/cernunnos-and-the-ram-headed-serpent/

To me the design elements on your brooch don't feel like they are connected to what I'm reading here. But maybe!

I noticed the head of the ram on the brooch almost has a scrimshaw feel. Enlarged, the head looks like some sort of plastic to me.

 

great link! Among all the cool things those glass beads are very lust worthy.

 

The black portion is celluloid, molded. Bakelite is made by casting a rod, brick, etc., and then carving. It cannot be molded. Curious design!