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Mother of Dragons! (Actually it's Mother of Pearl and Silver Dragons) - Help please!

Discussion in 'PUBLIC Vintage Fashion - Ask Questions Get Answers' started by 50sVintage, Sep 12, 2017.

  1. 50sVintage

    50sVintage Registered Guest

    Hi All,

    Found this amazing mother-of-pearl and sterling dragon collar. "Sterling" embossed on reverse and no other identifying marks. The chain is missing but otherwise in fabulous shape. It's 6" x 4". I've no clue who is the maker or what time period it's from. I'm thinking 60s to the present but
    really have
    no clue.

    Ideas?

    Thank you in advance for input of any kind!

    Mia


    Mother of Pearl & Sterling Mother of Dragons (1).JPG


    Mother of Pearl & Sterling Mother of Dragons (2).JPG

    Mother of Pearl & Sterling Mother of Dragons (3).JPG
     
  2. Retro Ruth

    Retro Ruth VFG Member Staff Member

    I can't help but I had to comment - that's fabulous! I could totally see Daenerys in it.
     
  3. 50sVintage

    50sVintage Registered Guest

    Thank you, Ruth!
     
  4. 50sVintage

    50sVintage Registered Guest

    Here's a picture of the back of the piece - shows very tight soldering. That tiny rectangle is where Sterling is embossed. Mother of Dragons collar back.JPG
     
  5. 50sVintage

    50sVintage Registered Guest

    Still hoping someone might know something about this - - - - the chain needed for it almost begs for more dragons so finding the right chain won't be easy.
     
  6. cmpollack

    cmpollack VFG Member

    It's a great piece! I've never encountered something similar, but if you google images of "Kina Shell Pectoral", you'll find a slew of examples from New Guinea/Solomon Islands/Oceania, of a choker length necklace with a crescent shaped piece of shell.

    I also found a few examples that appeared to be artisan pieces, maybe inspired by the traditional ornament. Wonder if that could be the case with yours?
     
    50sVintage likes this.
  7. 50sVintage

    50sVintage Registered Guest

    Carrie, thanks ever so much for the info. So it is shell, not m.o.p. I kept googling m.o.p. - no wonder my searches didn't result in anything. Can't thank you enough for identifying the likely origin!
     
  8. cmpollack

    cmpollack VFG Member

    Mia--you're most welcome, but I'm not sure you can conclude anything about the origin of this... yet! The Asian-y silver dragons really don't reconcile with the Pacific Islands examples. But hopefully you now have another direction to research into...

    Sorry I can't be of more help--the piece really doesn't ring a bell with me!
     
  9. Midge

    Midge Super Moderator Staff Member

    I agree, this kind of neckwear is typical for some places in Papua New Guinea, and probably also turns up in other Melanesian cultures - like the Solomon Islands.
     
  10. 50sVintage

    50sVintage Registered Guest

    Ladies, thank you again for your input!
     
  11. Jonathan

    Jonathan VFG Member

  12. 50sVintage

    50sVintage Registered Guest

    Jonathan,

    Many thanks, indeed. Yours was one piece of research! How very interesting. Maybe not the first time a piece of armor turned a la Vogue?? The way armor used to exaggerate and/or protect shoulders morphed over the centuries to the 40s and then 80s ensembles, it seems. I wouldn't have thought of it in the context of my shell collar, though, if you hadn't brought it up!

    Thank you again!
    armor.jpg
     
    poppysvintageclothing likes this.

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