Featured Safety first Unger Brothers Brooch?

I might have finally found a jeweler with the right tools and who I trust enough to do some repairs for me, so out of the dirty corners of my hoard came some of my 'projects', one of which is this brooch.
I bought it a few years ago on a local secondhand group and I paid 5€ for it.
I know I have done some research before I bought and the pattern of the ladies head is one the Unger brothers used.
My brooch doesn't have any Unger markings though. Its 800 silver, hollow, and someone 'repaired' it by sticking a safety pin trough one of its holes (omg that sounds even worse than it looks!)
I think I will have to take the leap to let it be repaired at one point anyway because it just looks horrible the way it is...(or get creative with it myself depending on the answers I get)
But just to be sure what I m dealing with: is this a Unger Brothers brooch or a copy?
Thank you very much for your help!

 

Wonderful, congratulations.

In those days designs were often copied. The type of 800 mark could be German.
I suspect it was made by one of the Pforzheim makers, they made/copied Art Nouveau jewellery for affordable prices.

Punk brooch.

You didn't just say that did you?

Someone made Vermeer's girl's grey eyes brown or hazel.

 

AJ, again, thank you for your reply.

Sadly when I was born they somehow forgot to put a filter on me.
I would sometimes greatly benefit of an inner critic who shuts me up in time before I say something stupid/inappropriate

The book in the background is by Mylo Freeman and its actually a children's book. I took it with me on my last trip to the library 'for the girls' but it ended up with me, naturally
I love the drawings!

 

Oooh! I love your book too!
Agree with AJ, that 800 stamp sings a German tune to me
German makers of Pforzheim copied a lot of Art Nouveau designs... They spied the pieces in universal fairs and catalogs

 

Kyratango thank you for your reply.
Oh well, those Pforzheim makers are no different of what's happened in the past and whats happening nowadays : good designs get copied.
Still, I think my brooch deserves better that this 'Punk' treatment

 

I agree, not made by Unger Brothers. I have that Unger Bros. pin, the details are much crisper and the construction is different

But it is sweet and I also agree, it deserved better than Punk treatment.

 

Marie Forjan, thanks for your reply.
It would be awesome to see your Unger brooch one day!

 

Here you go

 

Marie Forjan, amazing!
Indeed it has a totally different look to it!
So interesting to see
I love it

 

I have a few Unger Brothers pins and I love them

 

Marie Forjan,
I have one watch chain that was changed into a pendant and that is made by them.
I posted it on this forum a while ago.
I also have one tiny pendant that could maybe be a Unger.
For the rest I have this one and another pendant that are copies.
I also absolutely love their work!

 

I have always collected random jewelry and I did beadwork in my youth. If Marie hadn't said it I would - I have several pieces similar to yours and now that she's shown the real deal you can easily see the difference in the detail and sharpness.

 

Art Nouveau silver is a real love for me. I have a nice collection I wear when we go out to dinner or parties.

There is a wonderful Unger watch fob someone I know has with 4 panels using the design of the pin shown here. The owner is holding on to it, he can’t decide what to do with it. He was thinking of separating the pieces and making necklaces to sell. Unfortunately, the Unger mark is only on one of the parts so I told him he won’t get a whole lot for the necklaces except for the one with the mark. Plus he would have to pay someone to take the 2 side rings off each piece and attach a single 1 on each.

I told him to talk to me before he does anything with it. It makes me crazy that he wants to break it apart

I see him regularly, and a few times a year I ask him “How is my watch fob?” I think if I keep asking, though not too often, he may break down and sell it to me - I hope!

 

Marie Forjean, omg that would be so sad, seeing that watch fob being separated.
I m a Megpie, I collect whatever meets my eyes. Especially old and/or Flemish.
Here is my Unger: (I cant find my posting here)

 

Stunning brooch, Marie, love the detail.

Can't you steal it, to keep it safe?

 

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/unger-brothers-art-nouveau-pendant.73874/

 

That is a beauty!!!!!!!!

I wish! He's a nice man, makes jewelry and wind chimes out of silver plate flatware. My take is gentle persuasion may win the day