Posted 12 years ago
au.bijou
(1 item)
Lets share views on posted examples of Mermaid brooch, unsigned but attributed to Hattie Carnegie. Brooches in examples numbered 2-4 are clearly different from the first one, so basically we are looking at two types of this brooch. One is original vintage, the other one is a more or less recent reproduction - so which one in your opinion is vintage?
nr 1 is the original. It appears to have a better finish and more details than nr 2, 3 and 4. But I'm no expert.
Just for variety...because I don't know...I am going with 3 as the original.
If I wanted to buy one to wear, I would have picked #1 because it's more detailed, even though it looks to me most recent of the four. Could it be a museum store piece? The other three look like they may have come from the same mold but the back is finished differently on #2.
While #1 has more defined features, it also looks more recent and from cheaper materials. I honestly have no clue but I'm tossing up between #3 and #4. Don't leave us hanging too long, I'm keen to know... ;)
I had #1 brooch recently that I purchased from a women that had literally minimum 100 pieces.. Mainly Kenneth Jay Lane but also numerous Carnegie pieces.. I had listed this brooch on Ebay and had it knocked off twice.. The first time I had it listed as Unsigned Hattie Carnegie and the second time after speaking with Ebay and listing it per their suggestion had it knocked off again.. I will say that the detail is amazing as is the color.. I will have to say #1
I think #3 looks the most elegant, and all of the elements seem to fit together better than the others.
So when do you finally say which is the real one..??
Oooh, this is a tough one!
I have never seen these pieces up-close, but I'd rule #1 out. From what I have seen so far, the Hattie Carnegie mermaid brooch does not have a well-defined facial features, and it does not hold a pearl.
As for the other three, the gold plate finishing at the back of #2 and #4 looks rather rough while #3 seem to have the cleanest finish. I'd go with #3 as the original!
Number 2 or 3 as original
don't u hate it when they don't post the answer! lol...even I want to know...which one is the REAL deal?
I am guessing #4
Yes, I want to know too.. Will you answer which is real?? Or not..
Soooo.. Which one is the real one.. Or do you know???
I think it's # 3 or 4. To my knowledge the mermaid does not hold a pearl and her face is blank of expression. I'd like to be told as I am sure other's would which is the real.
Look at the quality of #1. #1 has clear detail in the face, has strong detail in the hair, the fin and the shell. Now look at the backs. the back of #1 is consistent with signed brooches. And finally, look at the way the plastic components fit into the metal components. #1's components have a clean fit; the others do not. I believe that #1 is the original; it has a quality consistent with other marked Carnegie brooches.
Although Kenneth Jay Lane designed some of the later resin pieces for Hattie Carnegie I have heard that NONE of the mermaids have been verified!
I agree with others that 1 looks too new, shiny and bright including the clasp. It best resembles Carnegie I have seen online in regard to color and detail. The others have blobs for faces. Not good imo. I'm in the same camp as Bizrla in that I wouldn't be surprised if none of these were authentic.