Vintage Clan Badge Advice Needed

[creagdhubh]

Since you have two, why not clean/polish one and leave the other with its patina? Best of both worlds.

Good point, Tobus!

[creagdhubh]

P.S. - Timothy has other vintage clan badges available for purchase at House of Labhran, but they are selling fast!!!

Check them out at:

http://www.houseoflabhran.net/fine-s...sterling-silv/

[piperdown]

Since you have two, why not clean/polish one and leave the other with its patina? Best of both worlds.

Best idea so far in my book...

[gary meakin]

Tobus' idea is the best I think.
My uncle gave me this pin; late 60's
I wouldn't touch it with a polishing cloth.
The older it gets, the better it looks. (in my opinion)

[Chas]

On the back of each should be three or maybe four small stamps - the hallmarks. They will be small, but you will be able to read them. The marks will indicate the assay office, the maker and the exact year. So you will be able to tell exactly who made them and when. Any competent jeweller, would be able to tell you.

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever", so it should make no difference, but in the UK, silver collectors would be able to tell you exactly who made all their pieces.

Regards

Chas

[ThistleDown]

I would follow Matt's advice, Kyle, and buff the raised bits with a good jewelers' cloth -- at least the first one if you intend to wear it. That will leave the deeper parts with the patina of age. Do you know anything of the provenance? Obviously two distinct families and quite probably Macpherson. The second one I think is Pitmain's crest/slughorn. What have you found out? The first could be either Mackintosh or Macpherson, of course, but I think Cluny if it came from the same source as the first one.

[Mither Tap]

I agree with M.A.C. Newsome...

Polish the raised areas and leave the recesses dark. These are the best looking MacPherson badges I have ever seen. I like how the wildcat in first one is in a different pose from the usual "rapant cat" one sees.

Being a Smith myself, I need to get my hands on a vintage Macpherson badge like this. I've always put off buying a badge because the usual pewter offerings I see are awful.

Chris S

Chris S

[rsvpiper]

A tooth brush and washing powder IF you want a full clean, I would go with the cloth clean keeping just the raised parts polished.

Two nice finds there Kyle

[Lyle1]

I would give them a bit of a wash, even if you do not polish them; a gentle wash will not remove any patina that might have developed. A patina can be nice, but there isn't anything attractive about dirt. I don't think the crests were intended to be worn in that condition, and I don't think it honors the entire concept of a clan crest to wear with an accumulation of old grime. Cleaning them would also protect the original finish and prevent corrosion in the future.

[English Bloke]

I like those Kyle. Something to treasure. I'd go with the toothbrush, soap and water plan to ensure they were clean and then a light polish of the top surfaces as per Matt's suggestion. Very nice.

10 years ago, obviously I'd have had them gleaming like a new pin but I'm not in that game anymore and I think they look better showing a bit of age.