Mystery Antique Tiffany & Co. Sterling Pin

[raibos]

Any ideas on this Tiffany pin? It has a strange spoon-like form. I'm also curious as to what type of flower it is. Any help appreciated.

[dragonflywink]

Am a bit bothered by this piece. The design is taken from one of the twelve Tiffany demitasse spoons in a late 19th century 'Floral' pattern, and the flower is a daisy - that odd end appears to be intended to represent a bulb, which wouldn't be found on a daisy. This piece would not have been created by modifying one of those spoons, it was a double die-struck pattern, with the back displaying an equally detailed design - suppose this could have been a later design based on that spoon, but I'm doubtful. The intaglio mark found on the spoons was a fairly uncommon 'T.& CO. ♦ STG.' - the sans-serif 'TIFFANY & CO' on this piece isn't quite right, and to my eye, the marks are just off in general...

~Cheryl

[JLDoggett]

I concur Cheryl. It is very odd for Tiffany to place a pin finding atop their maker's mark. When I looked at this the other night all I could come up with is anemone for the flower but the foliage is incorrect, something Tiffany would be unlikely to contemplate let alone manufacture. It would be very easy for a counterfeiter to dream this up, apply the pin catch there for deniability if the item came back. I can read the ad now: Small pin marked "ffany & co. Sterling 885" ... and some unlucky person thinking they scored a treasure.