Old Pendant?

[Stickmarsh]

I need help to identify this pendant or amulet or whatever it is? I think it is hand-made of bronze with six different shades of color on the front and it appears to be very old. There are no identifying marks on either side. The item measures approximately 1 ½ inches by 1 ¾ inches. Any and all help will be appreciated.
Thanks, Stickmarsh

 

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[nuggy]

Hi, I can see what appears to be tiny writing on front, above larger square - below smaller one - try magnifying glass. Odd subject, must have some meaning. Nuggy

 

[taz42o]

David And Goliath.

 

[Monty]

It's a picture of a little person getting ready to brush his teeth when suddenly an intruder grabs him from behind and starts to lop off his head. Alarmed, the little person squeezes the tube causing the tooth paste to squirt out. Other than that, no idea! M nty

 

[Montana Jim]

No makers mark, modern attachment with loop... makes me think 1920s egyptian revival modern knock-off piece. Made to look older than it is I think.

 

[High Plains Digger]

I agree with Montana Jim that it is made to look older than it is. The subject is The Great Leader, whether he is Egyptian Pharoh, Syrian King or Babylonian Grand Popoo dispatching an enemy to his god, representing a grand victory over whomever. I am thinking Egyptian. The blue background looks to be faience (how ever that is spelled--the blue glassy glaze used by egyptians probably to imitate turquoise). So what is the background made of? It appears that there are some pieces missing? Perhaps it is inlayed stone, but I doubt that--this is not a high end piece. Egyptian Revival? Maybe, but which one? I suspect it is from the 60s, home "factory" cast for the arts and craps---er---crafts fairs or street sales. It would be interesting to know what the background is, that may change my mind a bit. Could it be enamel? The missing areas are pretty clean for enamel. Usually that leaves bits behind. I'll bet the same "person" made Ankhs with different colors in them. I will have to study on the attached ring a little. That may give some more clues.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Do you have any reason to believe its old besides the appearance? How did you obtain this item?

 

[Stickmarsh]

Thanks to all for your opinions and comments. Stickmarsh

Nuggy - I agree it is a rather odd item and believe that the image has significant meaning. I cannot make out any of the markings that you reference in your post.

Taz42o - I think the image is that of an adult male and a child and possibly depicts Abraham and Isaac as presented in the Old Testament.

High Plains Digger – I do not know what the background colors are made of. However, no pieces are missing that I can see. Thanks for suggesting faience, as that is definitely something to consider.

“Ancient faience . . . is a completely manufactured material created perhaps to imitate the bright colors and gloss of hard-to-get gems and precious stones. It was used in jewelry throughout Egypt and the Near East beginning about 5500 years ago. Forms of faience are found throughout the Bronze Age Mediterranean, and faience objects have been recovered from archaeological sites of the Indus, Mesopotamian, Minoan, and Egyptian. Types of objects formed out of ancient faience include amulets . . .”

http://archaeology.about.com/od/fterms/qt/faience.htm

Bigcypresshunter – This item was donated to a nonprofit social services enterprise and sold in their retail shop. I do not have any information regarding the age of the item.

 

[Breezie]

Stick, I agree with you in that your pendant depicts Genesis 22, which is Abraham near sacrifice of his son Isaac. I agree with the others too in that it's not an antique, but a modern pendant made to look old. Nice find, Breezie

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Bigcypresshunter – This item was donated to a nonprofit social services enterprise and sold in their retail shop. I do not have any information regarding the age of the item.

Ok thanks. I was just looking for more clues.

 

[Red-Coat]

Just tidying up some blasts from the past (including some very ancient ones), largely for the benefit of anyone searching the site for information.

That’s an amulet or icon depicting the 4th Century ‘Great Martyr’ of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Nikita Besogon (Nikita the Devil-Beater), also known as St. Nicetas. He’s grabbing a demon, representing the devil, by the ears or hair and beating him with a thick rope wielded in his other hand. It will likely be Russian or Slavic.

Here’s an early 19th Century icon painting of him wieding a chain rather than a rope, and a cast metal icon from the later 19th Century which is very similar to yours. Difficult to date, but yours is most likely from the 1900s.

Cast metal images of him, were commonly worn around the neck for protection against evil and/or carried by travellers to be hung on the wall wherever they rested their heads for the night. He’s also prayed to for the preservation of children from birth defects.