Topic: Strange brooch possibly glass

[Andy]

Its a Stunning Broach!!
If i were a woman, Id wear it!!
Are you sure its brass? maybe metal is tarnished?

Regards Andy

edit, sorry, Brooch! cant even spell the word!

[Ivo]

The answer may be  Dalle-de-verre; this is a variation on pâte-de-verre used for making tiles with a cameo effect. Equally desirable and rare, with (I think) less control over the colours.

[Pat]

Thanks for all your input. here is a picture of the back of the brooch.

http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-4332

Well it is stunning and I love jewellery. In fact I have a box full and never wear it so the brooch will be sold which is partly why I need an id. I think maybe not brass but copper with the frame made of wires twisted together. It has green spots and I would love to clean it up but not certain how.

[Frank]

Going by the back I would say it is cast and enamelled milk glass and not Pate-de-verre. The copper/brass mount would tend to confirm it as cheaper production. Still a very desirable piece even if not in the A-R class.

[Lustrousstone]

Certainly looks like glass from here. Does it chink on your teeth or does it clunk? Chinking is glass, clunking is resin.
Dalle de verre seems to be slabs of cast glass for windows and tiles but I can see pate de verre working

[heartofglass]

I agree, it really looks like cast milk glass.....I have a fairly similar one except it's a pendant rather than a brooch & set in silver.
Possibly made in Bohemia by one of the many glass jewellery makers of the region,& the description of the setting as made up of twisted wires suggests to me the "Gurtler" work of the Sudetengermans of Bohemia. It is a traditional style of metal-craft used for jewellery settings in this area.
A lovely piece & quite collectable.

[Lustrousstone]

Presumably though if you cast glass, i.e., poured molten glass into a mould you would have a smooth back and not a pitted suface. Surely, there is no reason why pate de verre could not have been used and then enamelled. It would not have to be a paste containing other colours.

[Frank]

For a smooth surface you need to either grind and polish or use a mould. P-d-V tends to be smoother although some modern P-d-V is less fused giving a more textured finish than you tend to get with early 20th C P-d-V.

[Lustrousstone]

Look what I just found on ebay

[Pat]

Oh you little star you! Thank you for that.


Pat