posted 06-05-2011 03:22 PM            

This most likely is a belt buckle as opposed to a cloak clasp. It is one of four items I have with same provenance:

What I know is that these silver items were brought back to his family in Egypt by a Greek Orthodox priest. They were acquired during his travels around Eastern Europe/Russia prior to and during the Communist Revolution. They sat in his nieces home for decades and she sold them in 1980 when she herself was eighty. So I am guessing the priest would be approx 140 years old about now. This is all I know.

This buckle which appears to depict 2 boys on two sparring lions--one male,; one female.

No marks. About 3" wide. Simple loops/clasp on rear.

posted 06-07-2011 11:40 AM            

I've delayed comment because I haven't really got anything new and therefore useful to say about your two items. However, rather than leave the topic hanging in the air......

The general rule of thumb is that unmarked pieces are unlikely to be silver though, as with all rules, there are occasional exceptions. I have, for example, seen unmarked silver (and gold) from the Middle East so I wouldn't presume to try and judge whether silver, plated or pewter just on the basis of photographs.

Stylistically I would have thought these pieces are late 19th or early 20th century which would fit the provenance you give.

I have a feeling I have seen the putti on lions motif before but cannot put my finger on where. If it suddenly comes to me I'll let you know.

posted 06-07-2011 12:13 PM            

You mention that the photos of the bowl are too light but actually they are better than the overly dark photo of the buckle. A closeup of the details to go with the overally photo is always a good addition. Most every modern digital camera these days has a macro setting (the setting or button with the symbol of a flower) that will let you get within an inch or two of the subject for great up close detail. Another technique for photographing silver colored metal is to use diffuse light. Put a couple of light sources on either side of the object and then put a white sheet or piece of white paper between the object and the light sources. And one last technique is to use something to steady the camera - a pile of books or a chairback or whatever - so the camera will not shake at all and the the image will be extra sharp.

posted 06-07-2011 02:58 PM            

The pieces above "tested positive for silver." For what that's worth. There is also a similar oval bowl that has five stamps on it's face! I'll try for better pics and get those up as well.

As devil's advocate: Why would a priest, or anybody, shlep around nickel products during such frightening times no less?

Oh yeah, what's a putti? I'm going to look that up right now!

posted 06-07-2011 03:05 PM            

quote:

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representing a cupid is also called an amorino (plural amorini).

Art historian Juan Carlos Martinez writes:

"Originally, Cherubs and Putti had distinctly different roles, with the former being sacred, and the latter, profane. That is, Cherubs and Seraphs (Cherubim, Seraphim) are Angels, occupying the highest angelic orders in Heaven and are thus the closest to God. On the other hand, Putti, arise from Greco-Roman classical mythos (i.e., non-Christian). They are associated with Eros/Cupid as well as with the Muse, Erato; the muse of lyric and love poetry...

"Putti – which comes from the Latin, putus, meaning 'little man' – are...not so much babies as they are 'not human'. They are spiritual beings and thus depicted in their typically odd fashion; as winged little people of indeterminate gender. Using babies as models for Putti (or for Cherubs, either) doesn't quite get across the true concept of 'Putti-ness' as they (babies) are too guileless, for one thing, whereas Putti are clever and purposeful. They are there to help Cupid/Eros facilitate the onset of profane love – or secular, non-religious love, as between two people, rather than the love as between a human and God. Probably, it was artists' attempts to avoid simply painting babies that has led to so many rather odd and, often, ugly, Putti. Sometimes they nailed it, sometimes not.

"By the time the Baroque Era came about, which might arguably have been the high point for Cherubim and Putti, both of these little beings were usually being depicted in the same way. Which one they were, simply depended upon the theme of the painting or sculpture: If religious (sacred) – they were Cherubs. If secular or mythic (profane) – they were Putti.

"In either case, they'd be hard to pull off successfully today because most people are unaware of their roles in semiotics, or in philosophy/mythology/history, or in religion." (Martinez, Juan Carlos. "What's With the Cherubs?" ARChives - Essays and Information on Art by Today's Experts and Professionals. Art Renewal Center, 10/5/2004.

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posted 06-07-2011 06:13 PM            

You ask why a priest would be carting around some base metal or plated objects? I don't know. Why would that same priest be be wearing a belt buckle with some pagan gods on it? I don't know that either. My guess is these may have been owned for nothing more than practical personal use, or he may have thought they were silver and was fooled. Anything is possible and they may be totally unmarked silver but that is not a common thing to come across since people have always valued silver and to be sure they want to have it marked as such according to the country of manufacture's silver marking system. And as I have mentioned, the usual simple drop of acid test for silver is normally pretty useless since if an object is silver plated the thin layer of silver will indeed test as silver, but that doesn't help you know what is under the top layer of metal.

If you can get some brightly lit photos of the bowl that has the five markings on it we might be able to say something about it. Be sure to get clear closeups of the markings along with overall photos of the bowl.

As for photographing silver, you are getting better. On the other hand if you want to go for professional results you can go high tech with a tripod and commercially made lightstage, but for myself I would rather use my money to buy more silver or good silver reference books, and then use found objects from around the house that work just as well as a lightstage and camera platform. To make a light stage, find a nice empty carboard box about two feet on a side - or larger or smaller if you like. Cut out very large windows on the opposite sides and the top - cut out most of the carboard from those sides. Cut out a smaller window on the front. Line the bottom and back wall of the box with some fabric. You don't need to go off and buy special velvet fabric unless you really want to. An old solid color pillow case or sheet or whatever you can find in the back of the linen cupboard or in the attic works fine. A darker color is often best to showcase bright silver. Drape a white sheet over the top window and side windows and put a table lamp on the outside near those two covered side windows. Or, instead of a draping a white sheet over the box you can go wild and fancy and tape some plain white paper over the side windows to make diffusion screens. Tape some white paper over the top window, but only tape it along one side so you can lift it up to put your silver objects in and out of the box. Now put your silver object in the box sitting on the fabric lining on the bottom, lower the top flap or drape your sheet, turn on the desk lamps on either side and aim them at the side windows so the light comes through them, being diffused through the white sheet or white paper from each large side window, then poke your camera through the front window to snap your photo of your object sitting on the fabric on the bottom with the fabric on the back as background. Experiment with your home-made light stage until you get it working the way you like.

[This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 06-07-2011).]

posted 06-07-2011 06:52 PM            

My fantasy about why the priest had these items is that they were gifts perhaps. (Something to buy off military?) I wanted to think religious ritual objects, such as a holy water vessel, but there is nothing to back that up. In my fantasy world I don't see the priest wearing these.

He also brought back other items and I'll get to that later. Of one I am certain: it was a large belt-buckle of silver with images of saints on it carved in MOP (mother of pearl.)

I like to think every clue helps. I also think I may be guilty of thinking too much.