Unusual Antique Koi Fish Brooch Find!

[SDIceMan]

Came across this brooch in a vendor mall in my town. To be honest, I had seen it before, and was always a little intrigued, but I couldn't be bothered to get the clerk to come unlock the showcase. Well, today I had the time, and the store wasn't busy, so I drug the clerk to the back of the warehouse and finally got a good look. I was never sure whether it was a buckle or a brooch, as the previous owner had it sitting on a framed piece of satin. Turns out it is a brooch. I removed it from the frame and looked it over. No markings that I could see, but the craftsmanship is excellent. The back of the picture frame has an inscription, which is what got me excited. I love a good backstory, and I'm paraphrasing here because I sent the brooch & frame home with my wife and I don't have it here to read verbatim, but it read "your grandmother gave this brooch to me in 1949 and at the time it was very very old. Now I would like you to have it." The inscription is dated 1971. So, whether valuable or not, I would venture to call it "antique". Here are a couple of photos as it looked in the frame. I apologize for the photos being cropped weird. I didn't really want to show the price sticker in case I decide to sell it down the road and someone finds this forum when they are searching comparables. :-D Again, I don't have it here in front of me right now, but I would guess it is about 4 inches in length. Any ideas on the center stone?

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[Beachkid23]

That's awesome! Looks liaise bloodstone but I'm sure that's right. Nice find though!!

 

[SDIceMan]

Thanks Beachkid. I was hoping you or another of the resident jewelry experts - here's looking at you mugsisme :-) would chime in. I still have 9 appraisals remaining on a package of 10 appraisals I bought from an online appraisal site, so I plan on using one on this brooch.

I got this brooch for just a little over half of the sticker price. The antique mall clerk contacted the vendor and gave him my offer, and the buyer accepted right away. The funny thing is it's the same store clerk who I ranted about in another post for refusing to contact a vendor with my offer. I thought he was in the wrong at the time, but maybe he just knows who is flexible and who isn't. Plus, I'm sure it helped that in this case, the vendor price sticker was sun-faded. It was clear it had been in that showcase a long time.

 

[kingskid1611]

That is a really cool brooch. I would love to see what you find out about it.

 

[JimDon]

Killer broach. In a class by itself.

 

[SCpicker]

Nice find! The stone looks like some kind of composite to me. Similar to composite turquoise but with something red thrown in the mix!

 

[Beachkid23]

That's awesome! Looks liaise bloodstone but I'm sure that's right. Nice find though!!

I hate my phone. It should have said it looks like blood stone.

 

[Beachkid23]

Can you add a picture of the back of it? And the clasp.?

 

[SDIceMan]

The back is rather plain, and the clasp is a simple C-clasp, which as I understand was predominantly used pre-1910, because the rollover or safety clasp was invented and in use by that date.

 

[mugsisme]

I've seen that in a jewelry book, but I can't remember which one or the name. The stone, I mean. I'm out now. I'll see what I can find when I get home.
It's definitely antique

 

[SDIceMan]

I just finished submitting photographs and details of the brooch to an online appraisal site, supposedly staffed with former Sotheby's and Christie's employees. Now we play the waiting game...

I've used them once before. When I heard back from them, I was like one of those depressed people you see during the end credits of Antiques Roadshow who thought their family heirloom was a real treasure and find out it's worth squat.

Why can't I be the guy who finds out the $3 yard sale bowl he's been throwing his car keys and pocket change in is worth $2.2 million?!

 

[tamrock]

Looks like a nice vintage piece to me. Great find

 

[austin]

Stone is a turquoise and coral matrix and you are correct, it is old. Handmade and very well done. Can't tell from pictures, suspect a talented artist made it.

 

[Metro Retro]

Beautiful find! It looks very much like a Neiger Brothers piece (Czech), circa 1920's with art glass.

 

[SDIceMan]

Metro, I can't believe it, but I think you nailed it. I just found a similarly styled piece on Etsy, this one featuring dual Phoenix birds flanking a nearly identical center stone.

Sadly, it seems the talented Neiger brothers were among the countless victims of the Nazi regime. I really owe you a big thank you. A popular online appraisal site who shall remain nameless charged me for an appraisal, and responded with a terribly vague answer and a terribly low appraisal. In their 'expert opinion', it was merely 'Oriental costume jewelry'. So thank you again.

 

[Metro Retro]

I'm so glad I could help, SDIceMan. But I'm sorry to hear about the appraisal site -- they should have a policy of reimbursement if they're unable to ID a piece.

I agree -- such a tragedy and loss regarding the Neiger Brothers. But their legacy lives on, and you have a very fabulous example of their work! Congratulations!

 

[Keppy]

Metro, I can't believe it, but I think you nailed it. I just found a similarly styled piece on Etsy, this one featuring dual Phoenix birds flanking a nearly identical center stone.
. In their 'expert opinion', it was merely 'Oriental costume jewelry'. So thank you again.

Well to be honest with you i also thought it was costume also .. But it is a nice looking piece ... And to me the back does not look hand made it looks molded to me..

 

[SDIceMan]

I completely understand that Keppy. I suppose the brooch IS just technically costume jewelry, but the similarities to the Neiger Bros. pieces are too great to ignore, so I am comfortable attributing it to them. I think their story and the age of the piece elevates this from say a Coro or Speidel costume piece. I was just a little peeved that the appraisal company was so vague and dismissive. You would think a Sotheby's jewelry 'expert' would recognize a Neiger Brothers piece.

 

[Keppy]

I completely understand that Keppy. I suppose the brooch IS just technically costume jewelry, but the similarities to the Neiger Bros. pieces are too great to ignore, so I am comfortable attributing it to them. I think their story and the age of the piece elevates this from say a Coro or Speidel costume piece. I was just a little peeved that the appraisal company was so vague and dismissive. You would think a Sotheby's jewelry 'expert' would recognize a Neiger Brothers piece.

Yes and it never hurts to check it out more it could be worth well you will never know unless you do all you can to find out..

 

[trdhrdr007]

I completely understand that Keppy. I suppose the brooch IS just technically costume jewelry, but the similarities to the Neiger Bros. pieces are too great to ignore, so I am comfortable attributing it to them. I think their story and the age of the piece elevates this from say a Coro or Speidel costume piece. I was just a little peeved that the appraisal company was so vague and dismissive. You would think a Sotheby's jewelry 'expert' would recognize a Neiger Brothers piece.

You would think a Sotheby's jewelry expert would recognize a piece made by the Neiger Brothers. The fact that they didn't identify it as such could be due to it NOT being a Neiger Brothers piece. I can see some similarities between your piece & the Neiger Brothers one. I can also see some pretty big differences between the two.