www.925-1000.com

Goofy looking hallmark X & what looks to be writting from the middle east pakistan/iraq/india or something of this nature.

Hi,

Can you post larger close-up of the marks?

Trev.

here is a better shot

here is a picture of the entire piece

Someones got to have an Idea help me please!!!

The picture of the entire piece isn't showing for me.
Seeing the 'front' of the piece might be the clue where to start?

Hi Alantia,

The image appears OK on my screen, if it fails to show, try the refresh button.

Here's another image of the mark just in case it was posted upside down:



Trev.

Hi Dognose.

Must have been a glitch yesterday, it's showing for me now.
The reason I wanted to see the whole item is that my primary interest is in ethnographic and antique arms/armour. So, to try and possibly point you in the right direction ;) You brooch seems to be based on a type of sword called a 'Mandau'.
These were the traditional sword of the Dayak of Borneo. They were famous headhunters and although this 'tradition' had been somewhat supressed during the early part of the 20thC, with the invasion by the Japanese in WW2, the many massacres of the indigenous peoples and the generally brutal treatment of the Dayak by them, the British and Australian forces active in that theatre, covertly trained and encouraged the Dayak to mount a guerilla campaign against the Japanese forces (suprisingly sucessfully). Their earlier 'traditions' were it appears perhaps somewhat 'encouraged' as part of that campaign.
This led to a certain 'legendary' status for the Mandau 'headhunters' sword at the end of the war, and many were made for sale to western souvenir hunters after the war.
I would suggest that your brooch dates to this period. Possibly sent by a soldier stationed there just after the war to his sweetheart back in blighty!
So I would suggest that the origin would be Borneo/Malaysia/Indonesia, probable date 1945/60.
I'll see if I can grab a pic of a mandau to illustrate. At least that might be starting point for your search anyway.
Nice thing BTW.

Hi Cheita25

Here's a mandau of the basic type that yours appears to be following. There are many slight variations, but I think this one illustrates the defining features that allows me to identify your brooch as being a depiction of one.

Picture borrowed from (admin edit - see Posting Requirements )

Appologies to admin for posting link.
Picture also shows site address, so if you think innapropriate please delete.

OP, if you google 'Mandau' you will see various slight variations. Your's has the distinctive 'horns' on the underside of the blade near the hilt.