british memento mori skull pendant from ?????

pippi · Post by **pippi** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 4:24 pm

maybe anyone here know anything more than me about these markings,,,i was going from almost shure to know niothing at all by searching for an hour or so,,,,i even believe that this is plated........brass...a very dubious object...methaphisical?

thank you guys,,,i can not even find out how to post a picture on this site,,,(being dutch,,,and all is in english)

Pippi

LINK:

Post by **dognose** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 5:14 pm

Hi Pippi,
Looks like Birmingham 1895, interesting item,
Regards Trev.

Post by **dragonflywink** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 6:10 pm

Neat piece - watch fob charm from some creepy secret society?

Cheryl ;o)

pippi · Post by **pippi** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:24 pm

Thanks Trev,,,but the letter for 1895 is V,(wikepedia),,,this thingy has a flairfull B and it looks like the makers marks are not punched but molded with the pendant,,,,,,regarding to the pics,,,i love it anyway,,,how about the delta phi signs on the forhead????

greets, Pippi

Post by **admin** » Wed Mar 28, 2007 7:27 pm

Hi Pippi,
It is sterling silver and as trev mentioned from Birmingham. Don't know the maker, but you can check the other marks here Birmingham Makers' Marks.
If it were American, I'd say it was from a college fraternity since it has the Greek letters "delta phi" on the skull. Not sure if such societies existed at British colleges.

Regards, Tom

Post by **dognose** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 6:02 am

Hi Pippi,
My first thought was that it was a B but decided on a badly struck V for the following reasons, the B should be contained in an oval cartouche, not square with clipped corners and if it were the 1875 B it would had the Victorian duty mark accompanying it.
Regards Trev.

pippi · Post by **pippi** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:44 pm

thank you Trev,,,i guesse this particular field work is very complicated,,,do you know an adress to find more jewelry like this?

Best regards and thank you for your time,,,Rome

Post by **dognose** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:16 pm

Hi Pippi,
I should think finding pieces like that very difficult,
Regards trev.

pippi · Post by **pippi** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 7:03 pm

Thank you Trev,,,,,,i just had to ask you because by heart and passion i am determined to create and be inspired......good luck to you....Rome

if there is anybody out there who knows about gallery's that depict friendly skulls in any way, jewelry, paintings, carvings..or other blessed craniumssssss.....please let us know,,,we are devoted

her ladyship · Post by **her ladyship** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 8:34 am

Hi Pippi!
The reason it looks plated is because it is, but with gold. Many pieces of late Victorian silver jewellery feature touches of gold to enhance the look. It also should be set with two small stones in the eye sockets. Probably garnets, though they could also have been rhinestones imitating emeralds or rubies. I'd go for garnets myself, and it would look great if they were replaced!
As for other items like this, eBay often has antique momento mori and mourning jewellery for sale, both fine and costume.