Featured Help to date and describe vintage (costume) brooch

Here is a pretty cool little reticulated pin. It measures 2" L.

The floral decoration feels like it might be enamel. Is this likely? And would the background be described as etched?
A close-up.

Here it is from the back.

Thank you in advance. It's been a while and it feels good to be back!

 

Can't help, but want to say it's so great to see you back!

Very interesting look.

 

mid 1800s
maybe as early as 1840s, probably more like 1860s

Yes black enamel. Have you tried a little silver polish? If silver (not always marked back then - and please please do not cut it to test) the work would be called chased.

 

Victorian,1870s ? Are those flowers above the fringe at the bottom,or 4 leaf clovers?

 

Yes as johnny said, could be as late as the 1870s.

Could also be gold washed silver, that tarnishes like silver.
Use a soft silver cloth or liquid polish and try cleaning it up.

 

But I'm a little confused, cluttered. It appears gold in color, not tarnished. A little rubbing with a silver cloth did not change its appearance (front or back). Would enamel have been applied to a non-precious metal?

 

New question. I came straight to the website after lunch to find your replies. But when I then checked my email, there were no notifications. I was sure I'd checked the box for notification. Help please?

 

Sorry, no answers here. Just wanted to say hello!

I do know that enamel has been applied to all kinds of metals. And, I know there is some kind of metal that looks like that of your pin, because I've seen that odd color and the 'chasing' before. However, I've never seen anything remotely like that pin before. Sry.

 

HI! No need to apologize, friend. You know I always value whatever input you have.

 

On my "New question," I received no email notification until the 7th reply. That seems so odd...

 

This is a VERY similar pin/brooch...I have no idea if yours is of the same era or materials but it is a start:

http://www.federalcoinexchange.com/...t-rose-gold-taille-depargne-enamel-pinbrooch/

 

And regarding the color, the photos don't give it its due. To my bare eye, it's a pinkish gold in hue.

 

Oh, thank you wenna. That sure does look a lot like it, in many ways.

 

Taille d'epargne is the black enameling.

I've had several of these brooches pass through my hands, and the ones that I've had have been gold filled but I've seen ones that are solid gold as well.

 

That's helpful. Thank you tie.die! I'm going to look into having it tested when I visit Reading on Thursday.

 

Here's one on ebay that's quite a bit like yours. Theirs is listed as 9k rose gold.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-186...429791?hash=item5d53f390df:g:wTQAAOSwmrlUsDh7

 

Waving to you from Hazleton as you pass by! LOL.

 

Thank you, neighbor. (Small world. I'm on a northern ridge of Blue Mountain in southern Schuylkill County. Get it? northernridge? Ha ha!)

Yes this piece is very much like mine.

 

Oh my gosh, I didn't even realize that the one posted by Wenna is the same one, just that wenna's link goes directly to their website rather than their ebay store. Sorry 'bout that.

And yes, it's a small world!
.

 

You know, I thought they looked the same. But I appreciate having a link to an eBay listing so I can watch it. So, thank you again.