Posted 8 years ago
gardinerth
(19 items)
For a while I believed this was an Alfred Phillipe brooch, but after a recent conversation and a little browsing on the web, I'm beginning to think it may be a Mazer Bros brooch fron the late 30's, early 40s.
Can anyone help with this? It is rhodium plated / rhinestone and unsigned.
Unsigned makes it difficult. I found this one:
https://nl.pinterest.com/pin/AVSQG0moqWLpn4Q4KPXc-HrbFK75lTsKxz9EXz6S3hiAbCBdcK2gJCA/
Is that yours?
From what I've read so far, Mazer Bros. marked all their jewelry items.
http://www.illusionjewels.com/costumejewelrymarksm.html
The pinterest brooch in the link provided by Efesgirl, is the same brooch. Same missing stones. Even the same shading in the background - so.........? Efesgirl should be congratulated for finding it don't you think?
Bought before you asked your question -
Thanks Efesgirl and Gillian. Actually the link is to my shop. I removed it because it was mis-attributed.
Efesgirl, you say all Mazer was signed, but do a search of mazer flower basket brooch and you find many of them, most all unsigned??? I know there were 2 companies by the Mazer brothers, and Boucher started his own company. I'm certain all Boucher is signed, but not sure about Mazer. Also, my pin has the same findings as the other "unsigned" Mazer brooches online...? Hmmm.
Unsigned pieces always leave the door open for speculation. Here is a sampling of brooches and other jewelry by Mazer.
https://nl.pinterest.com/gailfcrockett/mazer-jomaz-jewelry/
This particular brooch is unsigned - only marked with a "B" but is referenced elsewhere:
http://www.trifari.com/pages/maz719.html
As is this bracelet:
http://www.trifari.com/pages/jom302.html
Thanks. If you notice on the first link you gave me is a number of basket brooches, mostly unsigned. Many also have the same findings as mine. What do you think of the design of the brooch I have shown? To me, it's unmistakably the work of a very good designer. What is the standard for attribution?
The normal standards for attribution is a combination of quality of workmanship and quality of the paste stones/gemstones used. However, without a signed piece to compare it to or a listed reference, it's still just a guess. The best that can be said is that it is attributed to Mazer Bros. Serious collectors want either signed pieces or unsigned pieces with a direct reference to a signed piece of the same design.
Thanks Efesgirl, that helps. Now that I know a standard I can do the appropriate research.
You're welcome.