Posted 12 years ago
blunderbuss2
(199 items)
This is a double-headed eagle with enameled shield & cross. I spent a lot of time trying to identify a similar eagle on a mil. buckle to find out it was Span. fascist from the Spanish Civil War & it drove me crazy. I remember enough to suspect Russian, Prussian, Polish, Bavarian etc. here. The crest with the white cross might be a giveaway to somebody, but evaded me.
Very heavy silver & fairly well made but no Ct/kt marks or any other marking I can see with my loop.
Anybody know where it is from?
Some Swiss crests have a white cross on a red background. Good luck.
I second ROBinHawaii. It is the Serbian Cross.
OK, curling fans, is that positive ID so I can ck SOLVED?
I do appreciate the help. I would have never have guessed Serbia.
I'll chime in - It's the Serbian crest. The Serbs use the double headed eagle, and those frontwards and backwards "C" shapes in the red portion are the clincher. I saw my share of that cross and "C" shapes when I was a peacekeeper in Bosnia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Serbia
I love a mystery, but a mystery solved brings it's own pleasure! ^.^
I have no idea val. Knew nothing about it until people sent info in the above posts.
``C`` is not a letter but flint strikers. I think it was made during The Great War. If you search for WW I silk postcards and hankies you will find flags of allied countries UK, USA, France, Belgium and Serbia. There was a huge campaign in USA at the time to help Serbia.
http://serbia.usembassy.gov/when-the-serbian-flag-flew-over-the-white-house.html
Hard translucent enamel, good details of casting, wear etc. tell the bracelet is OLD. I think it`s not solid silver but plated brass. There were many ``sweetheart`` brooches and jewelry made in UK during WW I, but nothing like this bracelet. It`s a rare piece of The Great War history.
Thanks Ivan. Do you know what the symbolism of the strikers is ?
It`s difficult to tell who created this coat of arms centuries ago.
Fire-steel must have entered heraldry as a symbol of strong character. Fire- steel was used for striking sparks from flint to create fire. The fire-steel, with its convenient handles, was struck on flint, and also worked on other rocks. It became a heraldic symbol in connection with the Order of the Golden Fleece, founded in 1430 (collar links).
In 12th century, an almost identical cross (Tetragrammic, meaning ``four letter``cross) with four C- or rather B-shaped fire-steels was used by the Byzantine Emperors, the letters standing for the Emperor's motto: ???????? ????????????????? ??????????, that is, "King of Kings, ruling over Kings".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_Serbia
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Firesteels_in_heraldry
Thanks again Ivan. That's the type of history I like & learn from. I would have never have guessed fire started irons from the symbols.
Wow, very interesting!