Help with piece of jewelry. What is it?

Villa

Villa

Registered Guest
Hi again!
I've had this piece quite a while, and think it is neat, but don't know anything about it.
It is unmarked, and is not cheapy, but not a particularly high quality feeling piece.

Is it a dress clip? It has some spiky prongs on the back, not a clip like I'm used to seeing on a dress clip. The black cameo is glass or stone, not plastic.

It measures 5 1/2" long and 2"at its widest.

Any information is much appreciated!!

Thanks to all, and Best Holiday Wishes!

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Oops, took one more look as I was putting it away, and see that it does have a mark at the top of the clasp thingy. It says only AT1(orJ)80112. Don't know how that could help, but there it is.
 
That is an unusual fur clip, have never seen one so long - very pretty!
 
Both terms, fur clip and dress clip are used interchangeably and even sometimes together in titles and descriptions but the one you have is actually a fur clip. Those double prongs are supposed to be able to pierce the fur without messing it up.
Dress clips have wider shorter clasps with teeth that are intended to cling to thinner fabrics like dresses.
 
I think it's late 1940's, maybe early 1950's - Victorian Revival style and would like to reinforce what Carrie said about these findings. They were originally called "pin clips" and were meant to make the piece more secure. They were first used in the 1920's on fine jewelry and are still used today. They were used in costume jewelry for a relatively short time - mostly in the 1940's. Although they are commonly called "fur clips" they were not meant to be used on furs which could damage the pelts. They are meant to be used on heavier fabrics - and on coats and jackets. At times I wear them like dress clips at the "V" of a top but do not pierce the fabric. (Be careful not to pierce your skin!)

Several years ago I did a Jewelry Workshop for the VFG which discussed both dress clips and fur clips. You can read about dress clips in Part III and fur clips in Part IV.

http://forums.vintagefashionguild.org/threads/vintage-jewelry-workshop-part-iii.35686/

http://forums.vintagefashionguild.org/threads/vintage-jewelry-workshop-part-iv.35702/

Linn
 
Those were fantastic reads Linn! :) Great info. I would love to elaborate even further. At the time when fur clips were first used they were commonly worn on unlined wraps made from whole pelts and wool coats with fur collars. If anything, the pin heads of those double prongs would just poke two little holes through the backs of those wraps in the pelt or skin when worn and when removed those two little pinholes would not show under the fur. Sometimes holes were not even there as the animal skins were strong. On wool coats with fur collars, the prongs would press against the wool inside the collar. Most other fur garments though such as full fur coats, stoles, and wraps are lined with a layer of cotton batting followed by silk or satin lining. Fur clips were not and should not be used on these as the double prongs will poke holes in the fabric lining.
 
You know, last night I was watching the British version of Antiques Roadshow and some woman had a watch that looked exactly like this. It had been turned into a chatelaine (sp?), but the appraiser removed all the extras and what was left really looked so much like this, except it had a pocket-style watch attached/dangling at the bottom center.
 
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