Posted 8 years ago
vintiquech…
(8 items)
I have had this for about 20 years and can't remember where I bought it - possibly at auction in a job lot. It is approx 7 & 1/2 inches long and the bracelet part is approx 3/4s of an inch wide. The hand part looks as it is it stamped or cast metal and is about 1 & 1/2 inches long (not including the hook) by about 1 inch across. It reminds me of some of the jewellery in Game of Thrones (The Hand of The King). I think it may be pinchbeck but have no idea how to be sure. I know it is not gold as there are some little greenish oxidation areas visible in close up.
I have added more photos on a neutral background now, and I only ever take photos of jewellery using natural light - thanks for the advice - I am a newbie! :)
What color is this - a gold color? If so, can you please adjust the color in your pc before posting? Can you also edit your post and add more photos? You have space for four photos. Open up the bracelet and photograph the length, too. Please take the photos in natural light against a neutral background. The black is much too stark. Thanks
Hi Efesgirl,
Yes, it is a gold colour, that's why I think it might be pinchbeck. Thanks for your advice! I will try to add more photos - I can see that one is much to close up unless you click on it.
I have added more photos now... I quite like photographing jewellery on a black background, it's not easy but I think it has more impact. The colour is pretty accurate on my macbook monitor but I know monitors do vary in the way they show colours.
Thanks that's MUCH better! I can see what looks like marks on the end of the hook but can't make them out. Do you have a loupe or magnifying glass?
Be sure to clean that green stuff off the metal. It's verdigris, and it will spread and corrode that fabulous bracelet. I use a few drops of dish soap mixed with water and a little white vinegar and a soft baby's toothbrush. Any verdigris which refuses to budge can be removed with a toothpick.
You're right! I had a look with a loupe and there is a mark, it isn't very clear but it looks like two short parallel diagonal lines then two small triangles.
Ah, yes - I thought it might be verdigris - I left it as it was for the photos incase it might help indicate what the metal is, but I will try your solution, thank you for the tip!
Verdigris is not particular which metal it sets up home on - I've found it on silver and also gold. People jumble their yucky jewelry together with fine jewelry and the infected pieces contaminate the rest.
What is the hand holding? For some reason, I think Italy when looking at that.
Italy has the Figa - a fist of good lock.
Luck, I mean!
Hi Celiene,
Thanks for your comment, I think it looks like it may be Italian too now you come to mention it! It looks like the hand is holding some type of pin, rounded at the top and tapering down almost to a point - maybe some sort of tool?
Beautiful!
It has an early Victorian feeling to me, from the construction and hand motif. Perhaps pinchbeck :-)
Thank you Kyratango! If it is made of pinchbeck it could be even earlier than victorian. I am researching it now as it has a renaissance look. I did find one example of a Georgian hand bracelet said to be made of pinchbeck and with the same type of chains but much smaller and less detailed. If I find out anything I will update...
See the articulated chain on this one:
LAELIUS Antiques – Late Georgian Pinchbeck and Swiss Enamel Bracelet
https://www.laeliusantiques.com/collections/bracelets/products/late-georgian-pinchbeck-and-swiss-enamel-bracelet
Yes! Thank you! There are close similarities. Now I need to find examples of pressed or stamped pinchbeck or similar metal in early jewellery. I am getting lost in the research as there are so many beautiful and interesting diversions!
I just had to come and find out who you were since I had not seen your name here before! Welcome to CW, we do have a lot of fun here while learning needed or wanted information about our belongings and being able to help others learn about theirs is most gratifying. I see you got good info on your bracelet here already, of course. I just have to add that Efesgirl is right about the green gunk, it can attack any metal. I have had it on gold myself and not being able to find a mark on it, I thought for sure it was another metal but when I purchased a little kit, it tested as gold! Looks like kyra found a near perfect match for you on this bracelet!
Hello again shareurpassion! Yes, I only found this site a few months ago when I was googling images for info on Italian micro mosaic and came across photos that I had taken (for something I was selling online)! I wondered how it had got on here and it turned out it was on the 'most watched on eBay' page. So I joined up, posted a picture of an even better antique micro mosaic necklace and was promptly bumped off the site even though the necklace I had shown was not the same as the one I had put on eBay - anyway I got back in touch and explained the situation and was told that I could join again. I think it is a great site full of really friendly, helpful and knowledgeable people and I do have a lot of items that I could use some help with.... and maybe I can be some help to others too. I was an academic researcher in the decorative arts in my past, as well as a maker and hoarder!
That is simply extraordinary! Thank you for sharing it.