Snake w/ wings brooch

[Mainedigger]

Dodged the frost today and hit an old field near a small apple orchard. One of the things I found was this snake brooch. Anyone know the approx. age of the brooch and/or symbolism of the snake with the wings?? The snakes body goes around the stone and its head appears in the center of the wings where a birds head would be. Not sure if it symbolizes anything or not?? The brooch apears to be brass plated thus the stone is likely glass and it measures 3 1/4 by 2 inches.

 

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[woody_g]

wish i could help you with id but it sure is a nice looking broach

 

[ivan salis]

the design is odd and clearly its old ---- doctors have a winged snake symbol but not like that one however.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I like it. Any markings on the back?

 

[Mainedigger]

I like it. Any markings on the back?

No markings on the back I can see other than the solder that is remaining from the pin fastener, which is broken off.
Someone on another forum stated it symbolized the Flying Serpent from a biblical story....

 

[Gypsy Heart]

Looks like a Egyptian Revival piece...here is a similiar one

 

[Monty]

Reminds me of a medical emblem but I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn! Monty

 

[Mainedigger]

Reminds me of a medical emblem

Here is a good link in regards to the medical symbol and other uses of the snake and staff as well as a biblical reference to Moses and the "flying serpents"

http://drblayney.com/Asclepius.html

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I was going to say the same. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caduceus

 

[72cheyenne]

Check out this site. http://www.valkyria.ca/portal_page1.html Scroll down about 1/4 way and you start getting into brooches. I think this is gonna be a variation of a bird and serpent type brooch, although there are many style on this site it could be a variation of.

 

[Angelo]

Looks like the same artist to me Cheyenne.

Nice!

Tony

 

[BuckleBoy]

I like it. Any markings on the back?

No markings on the back I can see other than the solder that is remaining from the pin fastener, which is broken off.
Someone on another forum stated it symbolized the Flying Serpent from a biblical story....

It's too bad that the pin is broken off.  Its construction would've been a useful tool in determining the age of the piece.  My gut feeling on it is late 1800s. Note that the GNS pieces at the link listed in the replies above have the GNS stamp on them--but they are useful stylistically in guessing the age of the find.


Best Wishes,


Buckles

 

[Mainedigger]

Buckles...not sure if this will help at all...the pin is intact, but the "latch" where it locks in is broken....here is a pic of the back of it....

 

[Mainedigger]

Cheyenne...thanks for that link ....The brooches there look VERY similiar so I would say he was likely the manufacturer or else it was someone copying his style.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Buckles...not sure if this will help at all...the pin is intact, but the "latch" where it locks in is broken....here is a pic of the back of it....

Yes it does!  Older jewelry than the Victorian Era (give or take) seems to mainly have a one-piece pins (rather than a two piece pin like yours).  The older brooches were held on by the tension of that one bent piece of sturdy metal against a loop or hook at the other end.  A piece like yours, which swivels freely, has no such tension.  And therefore I'm thinking it is Victorian or later.  It is a shame that the clasp itself is not there.  If it had one of those swivel-style locking pieces on the other end, it would be even later in date.  The Art Nouveau influence is pretty obvious too--even without a good photo of the etched details. In light of all this, and in the absence of any maker's mark, it is safe to just call it Victorian Era. 

http://www.illusionjewels.com/utilitypatents2.html


Best Wishes,


Buckles

 

[72cheyenne]

Buckles...not sure if this will help at all...the pin is intact, but the "latch" where it locks in is broken....here is a pic of the back of it....

Yes it does! Older jewelry than the Victorian Era (give or take) seems to mainly have a one-piece pins (rather than a two piece pin like yours). The older brooches were held on by the tension of that one bent piece of sturdy metal against a loop or hook at the other end. A piece like yours, which swivels freely, has no such tension. And therefore I'm thinking it is Victorian or later. It is a shame that the clasp itself is not there. If it had one of those swivel-style locking pieces on the other end, it would be even later in date. The Art Nouveau influence is pretty obvious too--even without a good photo of the etched details. In light of all this, and in the absence of any maker's mark, it is safe to just call it Victorian Era.

http://www.illusionjewels.com/utilitypatents2.html


Best Wishes,


Buckles

Whoa, nice link BB! Much informative.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Im saving that link.

 

[Mainedigger]

Buckles...not sure if this will help at all...the pin is intact, but the "latch" where it locks in is broken....here is a pic of the back of it....

Yes it does! Older jewelry than the Victorian Era (give or take) seems to mainly have a one-piece pins (rather than a two piece pin like yours). The older brooches were held on by the tension of that one bent piece of sturdy metal against a loop or hook at the other end. A piece like yours, which swivels freely, has no such tension. And therefore I'm thinking it is Victorian or later. It is a shame that the clasp itself is not there. If it had one of those swivel-style locking pieces on the other end, it would be even later in date. The Art Nouveau influence is pretty obvious too--even without a good photo of the etched details. In light of all this, and in the absence of any maker's mark, it is safe to just call it Victorian Era.

http://www.illusionjewels.com/utilitypatents2.html


Best Wishes,


Buckles

Thanks for that Buckles...much appreicated!! Great link as well!!!