Featured Modernist (?) Brooch

Not a thing of beauty but any idea of age and origin please?
No marks that I can see. Thankyou

 

Have you had the metal tested?

 

Is there any more revealing detail on those coin-like elements? Can't really see in images...

I like it

 

No, I assumed it was copper/ brass/alloy of some sort. Maybe I should...

 

No, nothing. And ignore the wire behind, it's just an earring I balanced it on!

 

I wonder if this is earlier than you think, Art Deco, or maybe even late Arts&Crafts.

 

Ooh, I was thinking mid century as a wild stab but now you say it it does have an arts and crafts look about it.

 

So possibly 1910/1920ish?
Would better photos of the clasp help?
That rainbow sheen on the back is a bit unusual isn’t it?

 

I think it could be. The clasp is of a type that was already used in the late 19th century, but also slightly later.

That could have something to do with the heat when it was made, @Hollyblue will know more about it.

 

Rainbow tarnish............ https://www.antiquers.com/threads/rainbow-tarnish.35546/

 

So, with these C clasps, Im trying to narrow the age down as presumably they were used for a lot of years- This website says T bar up to c1920 and rounded hinge c1920s onwards until safety catches came in 1940/60 but how do you date a 19th Century clasp please?
Does the fact that this has a shorter pin date it as later?. When did the long pins disappear?
Sorry for my endless questions x.
https://jewellerymuse.wordpress.com/2013/05/11/tips-on-how-to-date-a-vintage-brooch/

 

I don't think this clasp id can be dated,the photos of the clasp are a bit dark.The hinge,pin and "C" clasp look homemade.Possibly from scrap pieces in the smith's bench tray.The Chinese are making C clasp findings and a number of companies are using t hinges and trombone clasp today.

 

With any piece of jewellery you have to look at the entire piece.
The clasp stories are written for people who buy 'mainstream' 19th century brooches and want to know if their brooch is ca 1860 or ca 1890. Since most of the writers live in the US, the dating is based on US patents etc. European made brooches can differ slightly in date from US ones, as can other European made jewellery.

(You wouldn't believe how many times I wrote brioche instead of brooch. )

 

Brioche....Nom.....
Ah ok, yes, I see what you mean about considering the whole piece, especially if something is hand made or individual it may not tick the standard boxes.
Thankyou as ever for your help.

 

Agree the whole thing looks a little ‘experimental’!

 

On the front of the "coin" on the left there appear to be some sort of impressions that are not visible on the other "coin." Is that anything of interest? Or just a decoration, or random marks made by a tool?

 

I'll get it back out and have a good look when I get home this evening

 

I got time to check before I left and definitely no markings on the coins. What your sharp eyes have spotted is some wear to the oxidisation(?).
I had a closer look at the rest of it under a loupe though and the clasp is interesting in that it is help in place by a pinch in the metal rather than a pin. Don’t know if that helps to date it at all?. More photos but my phone isn’t great close up. If you can imagine the metal being squeezed between thumb and finger into the coil of the pin- sorry best explanation I can give! No markings anywhere at all sadly.