Art Nouveau Nymph - Appreciate Help With Marks

[englishladyfromkent]

This is a beautifully modelled brooch taking the form of a nymph/fiary/angel. She is bending down and picking up a flower which has a black center to it. It is 2.5" x 1" and has some marks, but only on the actual pin - not on the back of the piece.

I have photographed the pin dozens of times, but it always comes out blurred even on macro setting. I will post my latest efforts in case someone can magically see them!

As there is only one set of three initials followed by a set of two initials on the pin, I am assuming it is not English. But quite what it is I just dont know.
There are no other marks on the piece at all.

At first I thought the first group of marks was C H E but now they look like G M E. The second group of two initials is clearly A P

I really would be grateful if someone could point me in the right direction to find out when and where (and maybe by whom) this little beauty was made.

Now the difficult bit - going to try to add the images. Thanks everybody.

https://picasaweb.google.com/100775230692430487770/October92011

https://picasaweb.google.com/100775230692430487770/October9201104

https://picasaweb.google.com/100775230692430487770/October9201103

https://picasaweb.google.com/100775230692430487770/October92011

Really sorry for the clarity of the images, I've tried everything I can think of. Thanks for any help at all.

[dognose]

Hi,

Welcome to the Forum.

Your images are not viewable. Please try again and remember to use the 'Preview' button.

How to Add Images

http://www.tinypic.com is recommended.

Trev.

[englishladyfromkent]

Hi Trev

So sorry, I did preview the ones in Picassa, but though people looking could enlarge the little pic in the corner.

Now doing it by tiny url. Fingers crossed!

http://i54.tinypic.com/10hnd4w.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2wmqs2h.jpg

http://i54.tinypic.com/6zrmg6.jpg

(admin photo edit - images too large - link only - see Posting Requirements )


Tinypic seems a great idea but my goodness is is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO slow. Going to preview now.
Gosh - so much for tiny pics, they seem massive. But I have no clue how to make them smaller and maybe bigger is better for marks?

Thank you for your help Trev and hope you can see something I cant!

Kind regards

Julie

[dognose]

Hi Julie,

I think the problem is that the macro feature on your camera is focusing on the background, rather than the pin where the marks are located. Try placing the open pin flat onto the surface, rather than suspended above it, using the edge of the table, or whatever.

If all else fails, try drawing what you see and then photograph that.

Regards Trev.

[ValkyrieVixen]

I've seen a discussion about this figure on another board and it's been done numerous times by many people so may not be actual Nouvea era. Maybe the marks, if you can get better pics, will help narrow it down.

[englishladyfromkent]

Thanks for the advice Trev - I will try what you say with the macro setting on the camera. Sorry for the images being so large too. I will try to figure that out when posting the new ones.

Many thanks indeed.

J

[englishladyfromkent]

Think I've dont it Trev. Here is the first pic of the lady herself just to remind you where the marks came from, on the pin stem itself, close to the hinge.



and the clearest one of the the writing :



I hope someone can understand the marks meaning and point me in the right direction to further my knowlege more.

Thanks for everyone who takes the time to look. Much appreciated.

[dragonflywink]

Would expect to see proper marks on the body of the piece, the ones on the pin-stem appear to be the Birmingham import mark with the 1989 date letter "P", along with the importer's mark. This model, as well as similar cast fairies and other Art Nouveau designs are still available new and on the secondary market here in the U.S. (I've been seeing them since the '70s), usually just stamped with simple "Sterling" or "925".

~Cheryl

[englishladyfromkent]

Thanks to everyone who answered, especially Cheryl. Really much appreciated. Julie