Featured Pocket Watch FOB with Medallion

I'm not a jewelry guy, but I picked up this pocket watch fob at an estate sale a while back for $1 USD as I thought it was interesting. It's worn and a bit askew around medallion, but I was intrigued enough to part with the $1.

Has a link with "Made in Germany" on it but I can't verify it is original to the piece. Appears to be nickel over brass and the brickwork is *in the style of* Jakob Bengel. Most of what I've seen from his shop had flatter links and the overall work looks to be more precise/tighter and of an overall higher quality. I'm estimating it to be an Art Deco piece, circa 1920s - 1930s.

The figure on the medallion has puzzled me and wondered if anyone can help me identify. One thought that I had was that it's possibly related to a cast member of an opera or stage play.

Any insight from you fine people is appreciated.

 

I was wondering if could be a manly woman at some point in my searches and inquiries. Someone even proposed Valkyrie a while back on a different forum, but the helmet doesn't really fit the character.

Anyhow, thanks for the bump!

 

Looks like a man with a beard and rifle butt on his shoulder.A larger photo of the medallion might help.

 

Bare-chested man with a very wide "belt" that looks a bit like armor, carrying a primitive spear. Headgear is a simple band at about eyebrow level with a wider band that goes over the top of his head. He either has blunt cut straight hair below the band covering his ear or that's something attached to the headgear. Left hand is holding a rope or "halter" of a horse - which has a very luxurious mane seen behind the man.

 

A bit blurry...

 

It doesn't look like the medallion is original to the piece,the ring at the top appears to have been smashed down and lead soldered into the top piece. The piece on the bottom ring looks like the medallion would slide between the 2 crimped areas.

 

Agreed. Kind of a slipshod application of the solder as well.

 

G of T ....???

 

Similar belt, Komo...if that's what it is referred to as.

$1 well spent, i n h! Or maybe not.

 

I was looking for that viking / norse look.....but GOT will do in a pinch !!

 

I agree, the chain part has a Jakob Bengel feel. Before 1920 the factory just manufactured chains of different types, to be used in end-products of other manufacturers. The chain could have been made by JB, the fob chain combination by someone else.

I was getting a 'Nibelungen' vibe from the medallion, but I could have been watching too many Fritz Lang movies.
Lang's Nibelungen protagonists are generally more covered, but Siegfried does prance around bare-chested during part of the first movie, 'Siegfried'. Not a good look imo. He has wild wavy hair in the movie, the warrior type on the fob doesn't.
Fritz Lang's Siegfried:


Since I'm on the subject, one of Lang's Nibelungen power girls, Brunhild:

 

Good points about JB parting out to other shops.

Part of my research a while back included looking at anything I could find regarding Richard Wagner's completed operas. One of which being Siegfried. Some of my research took me down the path to Brunhild, as well.

Thank you, AJ.

 

Interesting take, Davey. May be worth exploring. Thx