Chinese Filigree Brooch. New? Old?

Odd looking brooch in that the filigree is much better than the bone front. Why use all that fancy filigree on the back? Whatcha think?

 

Hi Vitry,
Does that mark at the top say CHINA. If it does, it is most likely 1950s. I have some excellent jewelry from that era before it became popular to export the stuff. It was wonderfully made with really nice stones.
greg

 

Hi greg!

Yes,, it does say china. Should I test it for silver?

 

If it is ivory, then the metal would be sterling. I would have said 1930s.
I wouldn't test.

 

The bone or ivory decoration is probably older than the silver gilt mount. I recognise the shape, I have several of these ivory pieces in my antique fan collection. And I can see an opening in the bottom centre of the decoration, that means that it was once a holder to fit between the handle and blade of a rigid fan or of a mirror.
Chinese jewellery often incorporated elements of older items or clothing decorations, such as jade clothing appliqué's.
Filigree at the back was simply a way to save on precious metal, which was more expensive than labour cost.
Here is a picture of two of my fan holders, to get an idea.



The fan blade or mirror would slide into the top, and the handle would pass through the hole at the bottom.

 

Wow. Awesome!! Thanks for the info

 

Pleasure.
If you are thinking of selling, I might be interested, for the right price.

 

The ones marked China can be as old as the early 20th. I have several brooches, and they all have really nice backs.

 

I agree, the China mark was used well before the 1950s. I don't know when they started using the mark.
The first fashion for Chinese export jewellery dates from 1750s-1850s. The absolute heyday was 1930s-1950s, the time of gorgeous Art Deco pieces. The filigree and cloisonné enamel of that period is always very attractive and of good quality.

 

I've seen sources that claim back to the late 19th, but I'm a little wary of that. It's lovely stuff.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if it was the late 19th century, but I haven't been able to find any good research on that. Most research is about 18th-19th century Chinese export silverware, which often had fake British marks.

 

Thanks all for the great information on this piece I always learn so much coming here!

 

Hi,
I only said the 1950s because that is usually the Chinese stuff that I see and have seen. The Chinese expert who I had dealt with only seemed to think the most of the Chinese jewelry pieces before WWII were much more rare than the later pieces. I often find pieces from the 50s in the "cheap piles" of better jewelry.
greg