Opinions on Antique Kilt Pin

**Drac** · 30th December 10, 09:21 AM

A quick test is using a burning match. The sulfer dioxide will turn the silver black.

Jim

**Paul Henry** · 30th December 10, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by tulloch

There is a nice website that you have to look at. I have found the exact brooch seen front-on. Iona is a place where a lot of artisans have worked to produce celtic-themed items. I have gotten some pieces by a couple makers who are influenced by the work of Alexander Ritchie. Check this out. http://www.alexander-ritchie.co.uk/sword_brooch.htm. It could be that your brooch is a casting from one of those brooches or it could be an original. Look all over it for any marks, side, under the pin, etc.

That is a great find, thank you, looking through it, and looking at the backs of the brooches, I can't but think that the OP's item is a re-casting, the finishing on the back is very unlike the samples on the website, and the actual pin catch seems to be different.The website says all the pieces of Richie were hall marked, so it would seem odd that the OP's item isn't.
But it seems that at least it can be attributed to Iona/Alexander Richie or a copy thereof, so it is unlikely to be much earlier than the 1920's.

**MacMillan of Rathdown** · 30th December 10, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by Dram

Recently aquired this antique kilt pin and feel quite lucky to have gotten it. I had only seen the pin via a picture and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. I thought initially, that maybe it was from the 1950's or 60's. I wasn't certain what kind of metal it was.

Once I recieved it I was very surprised. It is most certainly silver, and I can see where it was tested by the seller, beyond that, it felt very very old. Sometimes you can just "feel" the age of an item. I studied it quite a bit and now think it is from the middle 1800's and possibly earlier. Was wondering if I could hear some other opinions as to its age and history? Please note: the item is very worn and it is possible it did indeed have hallmarks at one time. Would appreciate any info. Thanks.

I suspect your pin dates from the 1920's/50's or there abouts. It may or may not be silver. If it was silver the hallmarks would not wear off-- I dine every evening with silver cutlery made in 1821 and the hallmarks are easily seen. That said, your piece could be a "second" turned out at the time and not worth the cost of sending out for hallmark or marking with the maker's name (most likely Alexander Ritchie) and intended to be melted down and cast again; that, or it could have simply "gone home" in someone's lunch pail before final finishing and hallmarking. Another possibility is that it's a knock-off, or a piece made after the Richie molds were discarded. Either way, it's a good looking piece and if nicely polished will look "the biz" on your kilt.

Your local jewler, BTW, can tell you in a couple of minutes if it's silver or not.

**Dram** · 30th December 10, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by tulloch

There is a nice website that you have to look at. I have found the exact brooch seen front-on. Iona is a place where a lot of artisans have worked to produce celtic-themed items. I have gotten some pieces by a couple makers who are influenced by the work of Alexander Ritchie. Check this out. http://www.alexander-ritchie.co.uk/sword_brooch.htm. It could be that your brooch is a casting from one of those brooches or it could be an original. Look all over it for any marks, side, under the pin, etc.

Thank you so much. That is perfect.

Just came back from the jeweler and he has confirmed that it is silver. He also told me that the pin and catch are replacements . I told him about the one listed on the website as being from 1921, he was surprised because he also remarked how worn this brooch is (must have been someones favorite).

There are some strange marks on the back but nothing conclusive, so I may never know who made this. I think it is safe to assume it was Alexander Ritchie, thanks to Tulloch! The jeweler did say he was surprised that the center back was left unfinished or polished...(it has kind of a rough texture to it). Happy to know it is silver though, so it was worth the trip after work.