British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Recent Books by Forum Members

   

Go Back   British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum > British Military Insignia > Sweetheart, Veteran and other Lapel Badges.

 Other Pages: Galleries, Links etc.
Glossary  Books by Forum Members     Canadian Pre 1914    CEF    CEF Badge Inscriptions   Canadian post 1920     Canadian post 1953     British Cavalry Badges     Makers' Marks    Pipers' Badges  Canadian Cloth Titles  Books  SEARCH
 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-04-21, 04:09 PM
billy's Avatar
billy billy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Carterton (RAF Brize-Norton) Oxfordshire
Posts: 2,585
Default Royal Air Force -Mother of Pearl broach

I thought this might give someone a lift! I am amazed in the workmanship for these Mother of Pearl broaches! (I couldn't do it!)

It is really thick and am not sure what Mother of Pearl is? think of a shell (Oyster Shell?)

Hope you enjoy it as much as I, billy
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20210410_165335-1.jpg (40.5 KB, 30 views)
File Type: jpg 20210410_165309-1.jpg (47.6 KB, 19 views)
File Type: jpg 20210410_165210-1.jpg (46.3 KB, 16 views)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 11-04-21, 07:54 AM
dumdum's Avatar
dumdum dumdum is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,447
Default

Hi

Many of these seem to have been made in the Middle East, with varying degrees of skill. They often have catches to the reverse that look as if they have been made by a beginner in metalwork class!

I think that the average oyster wouldn't yield a large enough piece of shell, so it is:

Pinctada is a genus of saltwater oysters, marine bivalve mollusks in the family Pteriidae, the pearl oysters. These oysters have a strong inner shell layer composed of nacre, also known as "mother of pearl".

Good old Wikipedia to the rescue!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11-04-21, 08:12 AM
billy's Avatar
billy billy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Carterton (RAF Brize-Norton) Oxfordshire
Posts: 2,585
Default

The clasp is very basic! But the broach is stunning!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 11-04-21, 08:26 AM
Frank Kelley's Avatar
Frank Kelley Frank Kelley is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 7,562
Default

Very nice, what sort of fitting does it have on it's reverse?


Quote:
Originally Posted by billy View Post
I thought this might give someone a lift! I am amazed in the workmanship for these Mother of Pearl broaches! (I couldn't do it!)

It is really thick and am not sure what Mother of Pearl is? think of a shell (Oyster Shell?)

Hope you enjoy it as much as I, billy
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 11-04-21, 11:18 AM
billy's Avatar
billy billy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Carterton (RAF Brize-Norton) Oxfordshire
Posts: 2,585
Default

Hi Frank, here is the Clasp fitting, small and flimsy! You can see how thick the Mother of Pearl is though, at least in the centre!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20210411_121146-1.jpg (40.4 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg 20210411_121131-1.jpg (50.5 KB, 19 views)
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 11-04-21, 01:17 PM
Frank Kelley's Avatar
Frank Kelley Frank Kelley is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 7,562
Default

Very nice and typical, a really lovely brooch.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 11-04-21, 07:26 PM
CAM's Avatar
CAM CAM is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Farnborough, Hampshire
Posts: 1,217
Default

I do like mother of pearl sweethearts - they are impressive.

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-04-21, 10:36 AM
dumdum's Avatar
dumdum dumdum is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,447
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by billy View Post
Hi Frank, here is the Clasp fitting, small and flimsy! You can see how thick the Mother of Pearl is though, at least in the centre!
Hi

Yes, typical of the Middle Eastern made sweetheart badges although this catch is actually quite a good one I have to say!

Mother of pearl is a rather problematic material to work I'm told and produces a dust that can be quite abrasive to the lungs.

The H & S Department of this maker probably didn't have much of a say in the production however....
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-04-21, 12:55 PM
billy's Avatar
billy billy is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Carterton (RAF Brize-Norton) Oxfordshire
Posts: 2,585
Default

No Health and Safety I'm sure where involved! Wonder just what did it cost? But cheap I think, I like the fretwork, this is the best I have in my collection now, am sure there are other's out there? All the best Billy
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

mhs link

All times are GMT. The time now is 09:28 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.