Featured Hinged butterfly w/ teeth-like jaws in back.

I have this tiny butterfly that has a hinged mechanism with teeth-like jaws in the back. It is only 3/4" across by 7/8" top to bottom. I have no idea if I should call this a pin or something else. I have looked all over & can not find any type of marks.



Thanks for any & all advice or opinions!!

 

Hair clip?

 

Fur clip?

 

I think this might be Victorian. With my recent obsession of everything saphiret, I recall seeing a couple of Victorian saphiret butterfly pins while researching that had a similar mechanism to this one. (Only one claw though, not two.) I think that they were called "Lace pins". Not sure why, seems like it would tear lace to shreds, but I saw "lace pin" on two different auctions with this pincher type mechanism but may have been referring to something else.

You need to go to the last photo to see the back of the brooch:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Victorian-Antique-Saphiret-Butterfly-Pin-Brooch-/262755347102?hash=item3d2d706a9e:g:k70AAOSwal5YIeQU&nma=true&si=P57zSAnwVoTYOwklZs7cwdKW8eI%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

 

Ouch!

 

Oh fur goodness sake...

 

Thanks Lucille!!

I think you are correct. Here is another one I found that has the same turquoise type stones & red rhinestones eyes.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-VIC...284812?hash=item2120260acc:g:qn4AAOSwax5YnGmE

I also noticed that there were a few listed out of the UK & I was wondering if this was more of an English thing. I also do not understand how they kept these from falling off. They don't appear to have any locking mechanisms so they could unhinge if moved at all.

Hopefully Ownedbybear or one of the other jewelry collectors from the other side of the pond will look in on this thread.

 

I had one VERY similar to this in sterling. I was told it was a Victorian veil pin, to weight down a veil.
The hinged legs were pretty tight when closed, you could only open them by pinching the wings. The pincers would clamp on the open lace of veils, etc.

 

Here's mine, it had garnet eyes, moonstone cabs and seed pearls.

 

Very pretty Calico & thank you for the additional information!!

I scrubbed it up a bit with a toothbrush & some liquid hand soap. It looks a little less cruddy now, but I still see no marks of any kind.

 

I may not be much help, I don't think I've ever seen one here!

Those do actually look like real turquoises though.

 

Those do actually look like real turquoises though.

Thank you!!

 

Secret ninja batafurai.

 

Dang! Secret weapon is right. I'd hurt myself trying to use it.

 

I always thought hat pins could be serious weapons!

 

They were!

 

Hi,
Hat pins were outlawed if they were more than 11" long. I have one that is 14" long.
greg