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 Replies: 14 / Views: 1,933 |
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
Hey gang, a friend found a medal I figured a reverse image search would nip this one in the bud but no dice. I've described the heraldry in bits and pieces every way I can think too with no matches. That makes me think perhaps it was part of a movie or stage production or possibly a "Lord" or "Noble" Halloween costume. It is also plated and if you look closely 9fairly obvious in pic) the red stripe at the top with the 3 fleur has bits of the tops and bottoms of fleur at it's top and bottom, implying that it was cut from a sheet and thus cheaply mass produced, and both those things also make me think movie or stage production, especially since such a detail would never be noticeable.  |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
Is there a mnufacturers name anywhere?
I think that cheap costume jewelry is a pretty good guess.
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New Member
 United States
8 Posts |
I can't find any kind of manufacturers or makers mark on it. Here in a sec I'll post the back side.
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
 I don't know exactly what I'm looking at here. Of note are the square protrusion at the top which I figure may have been a loop that a ribbon could go through, and the very small piece of kerf or whatever at the very bottom which makes me wonder if their wasn't a pin soldered onto it at some point. Also from the side it kind of looks like the shield is just glued onto the cross and their may even be a design behind it, which further gives me the impression of some kind of "build a bear" situation with a props and costumes team. But yeah what lead me to the costume theory is that heraldry is usually SUPER easy to find, it's kind of the point, and the fact that I drew a dead blank on it makes me think about a production since like with money used in movies you would want it to be easily recognized as fake when it escapes the set to avoid any awkwardness in having produced a convincing counterfeit of a military medal or other honor. |
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Moderator
 United States
187702 Posts |
 to the Community! |
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Valued Member
 United States
220 Posts |
I can't tell you with any specificity on your example, but it is a fleur de lis shield. Try a search for "fleur de lis with crescent and lion" jewelry. You will find hundreds similar to yours. Happy hunting.
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
I dove pretty deep on heraldry and sans mane it is to be described as a cat or wildcat and not a lion. I did the search you recommended and nothing came close in the first 5 pages. At this point I have to think it's some kind of fictive device, just an assemblage of heraldic devices in a way not previously constituted. I have basically three theories. The most likely to me is that it was issued by some civic group that was just absolutely tiny, like a local chapter for Shriners/Masons/Rotary Club, whatever, that came up with a heraldic seal for themselves but were short lived to the point that they made like a dozen of these and this was the first to make it to the internet. The second theory is the prop/costume theory explicated above. The third is that it's somehow related, and honestly I suppose this ties into the first theory, with the Acadian/Cajun people of Louisiana. Their are 3 fleur and the castle could be seen as having 3 towers and 2 outbuildings; as you will notice the central 3 towers are disconnected from the outer 2. The heraldry of said people is a castle of three towers with 3 fleur above, to say nothing of the cat and crescent. Also the crescent concerns me a bit. IS IT a crescent? Or is it an artistic representation of the end of a trail, or the far end of a draw bridge? It's relationship with the portcullis makes me wonder. But I think for SURE at this point we can say that the specific hagiography/heraldry is either unrecognizable or CRAZY  obscure, if it's NOT a piece of fantasy or prop jewelry. |
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Valued Member
United States
220 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
220 Posts |
Probably a broach or possibly a beret pin worn by military on the beret flash. This lion is the "lion passant guardant" (PGB) according to the fleurdelis web site
In the early 1900s the shield (which is used a lot as the forefront of many jewelry items) was used by Coco for their jewelry and broaches.
I think your example had the pin mount broken off the back side.
Edited by Blind Squirrel
12/11/2020 10:44 pm
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
It's not the same setting but that's absolutely the heraldry. What did you google to find it? I think one thing that tripped me up is within the heraldry that I saw lions typically have manes and "cats" or "wild cats" are also a common motif. I surely would love to discover if this WAS related to a family or organization so I can go about seeing if they want it back. But could it also just be a design a jeweler came up with?
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Valued Member
United States
220 Posts |
I think it was under a Bing search, which I rarely use, for "shield, lion, castle, crescent jewelry". After looking at Coco Chanel's jewelry, the likeness in symmetry is definitely there.
The basic heraldry of the Red over white shield is similar to the basic "Chief" Piers de Champagne coat of arms. The fleur de lis in the red field makes we think it's French, which is where Coco was born. The castle looks like the Saumtur castle on the river, which is the city where she was born. Like many cities in Europe, the city was partially walled and might explain some of the design. There is a "per fess embattled" like shape below the central towers, which might indicate embattled city, since she lived through two world wars. The cressant gules was used frequently in french heraldry as well. And Coco loved her pearls, which I think is what is depicted in the surrounding "attachment".
All that said, I am a rookie at this, and could be completely off the mark. That said, it looks like you have a very nice piece of history.
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
I didn't even think to use Bing even though it's often better for searching images and videos. Thanks! So the idea that it's "costume jewelry" is more or less correct as that's what I'm seeing that era of Coco called, but not necessarily with the pejorative connotations of cheapness that usually carries, although their is that element as the articles I'm looking at mention that this was a period of trying to reconcile the "brutishness" of mass production with the elegance of art. I think my friend will be pleased at what you've uncovered. I don't know if he plans to keep or it to try and find a home for it.
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New Member
Netherlands
8 Posts |
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Moderator
United States
34396 Posts |
Well done chasing this down @BS and @mc75.  I spent a bit of time getting absolutely nowhere looking at heraldic shields and military medals so I'm glad that you both stepped up on this one. "If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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New Member
United States
8 Posts |
Indeed thanks a bunch gang! This was tricky and I appreciate everyone's efforts!
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Replies: 14 / Views: 1,933 |
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Posted 12/09/2020 09:19 am
This came up on my first search. 
