Please Help ID this Beautiful Sterling Piece Dug on 1760 Farm

[ChuckinDirt]

23.8 mm wide, 26.5 mm long, weighs 2.99 grams. Appears to be solid sterling, gorgeous details. On one side, the word STERLING is stamped on the bridge of the nose. On the same side there is something stamped on the brow over the left eye. Possibly a maker's mark? Looks like it could also be the number "24". Can anyone tell me what this is? How old it is? Who made it? I've been assuming it is the head of a stick pin, perhaps for a tie or scarf?

With penny for comparison:


Both faces:


Detail over left eye:


Attachment point:

 

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[A2coins]

Top of a old letter opener just a wild wild guess but that is really awesome wow great find

 

[Dug]

My WAG would be part of a ladies hat pin. Judging by the base it looks like it held a thick needle.

 

[Lafitte Deux]

Because of the adoption of the 'sterling' mark, the piece is not older than the 1880's.

 

[Reanm8er]

Has a Marti Gras thing about it.

 

[ChuckinDirt]

Because of the adoption of the 'sterling' mark, the piece is not older than the 1880's.

A jewelry appraiser has looked at it for me, and has identified it as a piece by William B. Kerr of Newark New Jersey. Kerr was a renowned silversmith, and his work is highly prized and collectible today. She dated this piece to the late 1800s or early 1900s. Kerr's company started In 1855 and was purchased in 1927. So after 27 there are no more William B Kerr pieces.

This style is Art Nouveau, and in particular this piece would be a grotesque. It was called Green Man, and is actually a demonic face.

As far as what was it used for, the appraiser felt that it was a finial, or part of a handle, or perhaps a hat pin ornament.

Pretty wild huh?

 

[wainzoid]

Wow, who would have thought it was metric!

 

[Rookster]

Pretty interesting piece of history.Congrats

 

[CRUSADER]

I know what it is.

It's part of a Fob Watch Winder, a very high class version.

 

[CRUSADER]

A jewelry appraiser has looked at it for me, and has identified it as a piece by William B. Kerr of Newark New Jersey. Kerr was a renowned silversmith, and his work is highly prized and collectible today. She dated this piece to the late 1800s or early 1900s. Kerr's company started In 1855 and was purchased in 1927. So after 27 there are no more William B Kerr pieces.

This style is Art Nouveau, and in particular this piece would be a grotesque. It was called Green Man, and is actually a demonic face.

As far as what was it used for, the appraiser felt that it was a finial, or part of a handle, or perhaps a hat pin ornament.

Pretty wild huh?

The Green Man is not demonic in pagan religion, it was demonised by the Christians. Its a very nice watch winder in deed. I have a nice gold plated dog version that's high status.

 

[A2coins]

Great info good to have someone to look at it awesome

 

[A2coins]

Welcome also

 

[DCMatt]

My WAG would be part of a ladies hat pin. Judging by the base it looks like it held a thick needle.

 

[CRUSADER]

View attachment 1631292

The iron residue lead me to the winder theory, but re-looking at it, the size to would be too big. So you got nailed. SOLVED.