Any "Pros" want to clean this for me?

[Silver Surfer]

Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

I was dinking around in my backyard a couple weeks ago, found a lot of aluminum scraps (snip here, snip there), and a couple clad coins, and then found this thing. Not sure if it was a ring at one time, or some kind of cameo. It was really corroded with dirt and iron scale, so I have been soaking it in mild soapy water since I found it. I tried cleaning it again today, but it is just too encrusted. It is not ferrous, but shows silver, and in certain areas, very gold... The first pic is of the front, the second is the back. You cant see it from the pictures, but the back has two "wings" on each side that are broken off. That was why I thought maybe it was an old ring, but my wife thinks it is/was a broach or cameo of some kind. Could it be silver and gold? Dont know, and dont have the ability to check. I was thinking that maybe one of you Pro's could use your electrolysis machines on it, if that would work. I would hate to ruin it trying to get the crust off of it if it is indeed something very old..

Anyone have any ideas on what it is??

 

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[stefen]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

Do you want the name of the maker and manufactured date as well?

 

[Silver Searcher]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?



Yes.... I would say Brooch proberbly guilded at one point, and had a stone inlay, or Cameo as you say....but that's going to be a nightmare to clean

SS

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

looks like a small buckle

 

[IronSpike]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

What size is it?

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

sorry to be the bearer of possible bad news put it looks like a big ol hunk o' junk IMO

 

[Breezie]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

My understanding is: If an item is gold or sterling silver, then it basically comes out of the ground like it goes in (minus some surface dirt). If your piece was gold or silver, it wouldn't be corroded. Breezie

 

[trikikiwi]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

I'm picking you have an eyelet for a twist fastener. Probably nickel plated brass.



Mike

 

[Silver Surfer]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

What size is it?

1 1/8" tall and 1" wide....

 

[Silver Surfer]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

sorry to be the bearer of possible bad news put it looks like a big ol hunk o' junk IMO

Thats what I thought at first, and of course you are probably right, but how could something so corroded and covered in scale retain the gold color? I have only used a soapy soak and toothbrush to clean it. I would think that brass would not retain that gold shine, and gold-plate would have long ago disappeared.. Thus my confusion.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

I'm picking you have an eyelet for a twist fastener. Probably nickel plated brass.




Mike

I am sure that it is NOT a eyelet fastener, although that is a great comparison. Why? Because the "wings" would have rotted completely away since they are always very thin. The "wings" on this are only on the sides, and very thick. Thats why I thought maybe an old ring.. I also thought it could be one of those "rings" that boy scouts used on their neckerchiefs??
I can say without a doubt that it is not nickel plated brass.. How? Because my wife didnt know I was soaking it (in a cup) and poured it out into the sink on day 2 of the soak... Realized that something was wrong when the garbage disposal was making quite a fuss when she turned it on.. If she wouldnt have done that, I would have never seen past the dark scale that covered it.. Nickel plate would have come off, exposing the brass on areas whacked by the GD, but the gold color only appeared in protected areas that the GD did not come in contact with (the inside of the back, etc.)... Cant say that the silver "points" that showed up due to the GD arent nickel, but as for the gold color, I can say without a doubt that no nickel was over it...
Who knows? But, the area I live is quite an old area, and on a lake with our ground being very high in iron and sulfur....

No matter what it is made of, it is old, that I am sure of...

 

[traderoftreasures]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

i never noticed the gliters that were gold. maybe it could have been gold plated

 

[DOGMAN ( U.K )]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

There is a recess on the inner edge which suggests there was definitely a setting of some kind in the centre. Posibly a cheap peace of costume jewellery?

 

[Silver Surfer]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

Still dont know how cheap jewelry could maintain the gold for so long if it were simply gold paint, or even gold plate for that matter... Usually, gold plate would flake off something so crusted I would think? I have found modern gold plated stuff, and you can tell immediately due to it's lack of luster and spots where the gold is worn off or worn thin.. Found a huge ring the other day in a tot lot and it was easy to tell right away that it was not real gold, even though it was shiny and heavy... Thats the weird thing about this, it that the "gold" seems to be part of the piece, and not just a coating.. Brass would never be that shiny from just cleaning off the dirt... Maybe I will never know without having it tested metalurgically..
But wouldnt electrolysis take off a lot of that crud? That is what I was thinking when I posted this... Maybe I should try some vinegar or something?

 

[aaaaaaa]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

Is the "crud" metal? Looks like some kind of crystal..?

 

[DOGMAN ( U.K )]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

Possible furniture or carriage embosment. Traces of gilding showing through perhaps? I found something similar years ago which was off a carrriage and was heavily guilded. The landowner kept it and sadly I never got to photograph it. Looks similar though.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

I think you are seeing remains of some kind of heavy plating on lead based pot metal costume jewelry. ...just guessing.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

Is the "crud" metal? Looks like some kind of crystal..?

It does seem to be unlike any other "corrosion" I have seen, like some kind of mineral buildup. Probably is just junk, but I think it is old.. The carriage theory is interesting.. No one thinks it could be an old neckerchief slide?

 

[cheese]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

My opinion: Piece of old pot metal jewelry probably from the 50's with some gold plating left on it. I still see gold gilding on buttons from 150 years ago. If the item was gold, it would not be corroded... that is not opinion, that is fact.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: Any "Pro's" want to clean this for me?

Yes.... I would say Brooch proberbly guilded at one point, and had a stone inlay, or Cameo as you say....but that's going to be a nightmare to clean

SS

I think SS got it.

I just want to add that unfortunately pot metal corrodes so badly, it is not salvagable. If you look you will see much of the gold plating that remains is under the stone or cameo recessed area..