odd bits and a nice peacock brooch?

dear all

sorry, more costume jewellery
what to keep and what to give away ....

peacock brooch, looks like the safety pin was soldered on and not original?
dragon brooch, bone or plastic?
silver-plated brooch, old or new?
a strawberry ring, considered cloisonné?
chrysanthemum locket is chinese cloisonné?
buttons are indonesian?

regards
phaik hooi

 

Phaik, I think the dragon brooch could be ivory. Can we see a close up?
The buttons are from Thailand, they are silver and niello, a black or greish black mixture, usually of silver, copper, lead and sulphur, which is applied much like enamel.

 

No need for the close up, I remembered to click on the photo. Clever, aren't I?
The lines are not straight like usual ivory, a bit of an enigma. It is hand carved, I like it.

 

you really do like dragons, huh?

 

My one weakness.
Come to think of it, there may be more....

 

Uh oh, looking out for lightning again. My first reaction to the dragon brooch was Celluloid, until I saw that the lines wriggle here & there, do not stay completely parallel or unbroken from one edge to the other. A couple of other features are the way the pin assembly has been attached directly into the material & the slight curvature of the piece overall, not to mention the part of the world where it originated. Everything says ivory to me. The henna brings out the grain on this ivory bracelet:

 

ivory?!
hope it is old enough to be guilt-free

 

I think the irregular lines are whale ivory, so yes, ivory.
Couldn't find a better picture, a sperm whale tooth:

Any old whalers on the forum?

 

It is, but can you sell it in Malaysia, if you wanted to?

 

oh no! i love whales

 

no idea but i guess i could if i don't mention ivory?
i will look it up ....

 

The ring is an inexpensive knock-off of a 1960s dome ring. Here's an example by Cartier.

Debora

 

tq for identification, not a strawberry then ...

 

I am far from certain about this, but my observation of most pieces, ivory, jet, bog oak, that have the hinge & pin stuck directly into the back this way, have a good deal of age on them. Not a mounting technique used much anymore, maybe for bog oak.

 

Think this link has been posted before, but best guide I have found on the subject of different ivories:

https://www.realorrepro.com/article/Ivory-genuine-fake--confusing

 

I am confident that this is a pre-1947 brooch.
The carving looks ca 1900-1910.

 

For reference, sperm whale teeth & a killer whale tooth in cross section:

 

not a phaik then?

 

hope they fell off naturally ....