Posted 12 years ago
Pearl_Fire
(7 items)
When I was 13, in 1985, I was on a driving vacation with my parents up the East Coast. They are huge History buffs and did tours of all the historic homes along the way. Being the cranky teenager that I was, I had enough of mansions and when they got to Lyndhurst Mansion in Tarrytown, NY, I opted to stay in the car and read my book. The parking lot was really just a lawn area with some trees near the Mansion - I guess it was on the grounds but I seem to recall it was a bit of a walk to the mansion. It was hot that day and I opened the door to let some air in while I read. This tiny glint of metal caught my eye in the grass below. I got out and tried to pick it up. This pin was tangled deep in the dirt/roots of the grass and I had to really tug and dig to pull it out. It was caked in dirt and brushed it off and here's the pictures. I have always been really curious about it. Was it a real antique? was it a pin that fell off a fancy hat on a fancy lady who was strolling the grounds? Or is it a cheap piece of metal jewelry with a broken stone that doesn't matter? The stone is a pale green, or at least it looks green. It could be a clear stone with a patina of green from corroded metal behind it? The way it is made it just has to be handmade. It just doesn't look like a machine could have made it. Looking back I guess I should have given it to the tour guide or something, but I didn't. (It was 27 years ago and I wanted to go home!) Will someone PLEASE tell me what this is??? Thought about putting it on Ebay, but I don't know if I should put a reserve of $10 or $10,000. :) Thank you!
My vote is you keep it - if you have had it since age 13 and it comes with such a great story! I wonder if it had a gem in the centre piece.
It is great story and a souvenir tie pin from your childhood. Terrific.
The "stick" on it seems really thick to be a tie pin or jacket pin. I think it would be too damaging to the fabric to poke it with this. It would ruin silk and leave a gaping hole in cotton, but I think you are correct about it being too short for a hat pin. I will try to post another picture to give you an idea of size. Anyone have a clue about a time period? I had someone tell me that it was from the mid-1980's...probably because that's when I found it...but I just really don't believe that! (Besides, it's not neon or made in China :) It certainly isn't "fine" jewelry - neither gold or silver. More likely pewter or something like it. I can't find anything on-line that really replicates the style at all.
I put a few pictures up for more size comparison.
AR8Jason - Thank you! I had never seen advertising on a stick pin...that's interesting! We are getting warmer....
HA! Love it.
i think i can solve the mystery here. i believe that this is a poncho pin made by the Mapuche Indians in Chile or Argentina. I have one exactly like it - along w/ the beautiful, handmade poncho it came with.
ho2cultcha -
How neat! When did you get yours? What time period is it from? I am very curious about how it got there. Do you have a picture of yours you could share? Thanks so much!
Just found this: The closest thing I have seen to matching it - and yes, Ho2cultucha, I definitely believe my find is a shawl pin!
http://www.americanindian.si.edu/searchcollections/item.aspx?catids=0&objtypeid=Adornment%2fJewelry%7cShawl+pin&src=1-4&irn=142020
Also this one. http://www.americanindian.si.edu/searchcollections/item.aspx?irn=266257&catids=0&objtypeid=Adornment/Jewelry|Shawl%20pin&src=1-4&page=3
I wonder if the little hook in the back was to hold a chain? And what would the chain be for?
TUPUS!!
i've seen chains on them before - in bolivia - they hooked to a button or a large safety pin to fasten it to the poncho. i've had mine since it was given to me in the 1980s by a Mapuche Indian friend of mine. I believe that they are still made today.
So can anyone tell me where I could find someone who sells these today? I mean would this be a pretty common thing you could buy when traveling in these countries? I mean would it be like buying a Mexican Blanket in Mexico...are they on every corner or is this something more unusual to find? They say on the internet that they are still around today but I can't find anything but antiques for sale.
And ho2cultcha, thank you so much! Without you I would never have gotten this far. So cool to learn about something I never knew existed. :)