markings on Kilt pins

[plaid preacher]

Can anyone share information about the markings "mizpah" with two hearts and an arrow through? I think they are on sterling silver jewelry. Who made the pin? How old is it? Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Downunder Kilt]

This link may help some http://www.kalmarantiques.com.au/Miz...d-history.aspx
Also there is a ton of stuff on the web re the meaning of the word. Sorry I cannot help you with who made your particular kilt pins though

[plaid preacher]

Thanks Downunder... not quite what I'm looking for...but also what I was able to find on the wonderful, and yet sometimes somewhat inprecise interwebs.

The markings I am wondering about are a makers mark/hallmark.

[Downunder Kilt]

The marks "mizpah" with two hearts and an arrow through are not a makers mark, but a common symbol found on mizpah jewellery, made by any number of companies and in all manner of metals. Silver should be marked with either assay marks, 925 or stg(sterling), depending on country of origin.

[plaid preacher]

ah okay. I was confused because the examples I am thinking of have them on the reverse ...where a hallmark would normally be, as opposed to a bunch of Mizpah jewelry that readily popped up when I search and had the word more prominently displayed.

There ya go.. I learned something today.

[GregR]

How old is it?

Hello Plaid Preacher;

I was just researching the other night.

Mizpah jewelry signified a parting and hopefully a retuning. It was to link between those who are separated.

IIRC these seemed to become popular during war time in the UK between Soldiers and there Loves. So a piece marked Mizpah could be as new as early 1940's (WWII), or from late 1910's (WWI) or even the 1880's (Boer wars).

The quality can be from low to high. Think popular fads. There are those who sold to the ordinary soldier and those who sold to the higher class. The quality can vary, but even the cheapest quality item from the Victorian era has good value as compared to the 1940's. Then again styles were different in each of the times. But Victorian style fits Kilt style so to speak.

I have seen lots of nice Mizpah marked brooches that would work as kilt Pins (IMHKUO)*. However I do not think much of the Mizpah brooches were designed as kilt or plaid pins. Many are certainly

Greg

* In My humble Kilt Uneducated Opinion.

[azwildcat96]

Mizpah is just one of several variants of the A. Hill & Company LTD of Birmingham, England. They have made, and still make, jewelery in the Celtic, Irish and Scottish style since 1946. There are several well documented articles on the different markings on the web if you look.

[Downunder Kilt]

Thank you azwildcat96, with my limited searching I could only find the same markings as the OP described on a number of pieces from various manufactures . Great research by you. Cheers

[GregR]

Hellp Plaid Preacher,

The markings "mizpah" with two hearts and an arrow through?

A bit more to your original question. Miracle post WWII is attributed with using the mizpah mark.

This reference indicates that the English company who made pieces signed MIZPAH with the heart & arrow signature was Quarrier Ward & Ward Brothers.

Greg

[Downunder Kilt]

Being spurred to due further reading, came across this little tidbit
Mark: Miracle, Mizpah double heart with arrow Courtesy Carole Morris
A Hill & Co. made costume, Sterling and low carat gold pieces.
A very small amount of their jewelry is NOT signed.
Shiman Bros. & Albert S. Samuel probably distributed A. Hill products in the US, that already had the Miracle signature on them.
The company name was changed to Miracle Jewellery Ltd. in January, 2006.
They had a small factory in Coldstream, Scotland from 1969 to 1980
English company who made pieces signed MIZPAH with the heart & arrow signature was Quarrier Ward & Ward Brothers.
Designs of both companies were recently bought by the Miracle company.
Butler and Wilson never made any Miracle jewelry.