Latvian coat of arms pin--meaning?

[fashion.fashoff]

I found this really neat old Latvian pin this weekend and would like to know if anybody can interpret the symbolism. If depicts the Latvian coat of arms with some modifications--a castle design on top of the sun, a set of initials which I can't decipher on the lower left and a book with the dates 1896 and 1924 along with some Hebrew ? Characters.

Along the bottom is a tiny hand engraved inscription which seems to read "VIENOT SPEKIEM PAR GODD RAUG TEVZE".

The pin is great quality and all hand chased. No marks.

Can anyone translate the motto or explain what all of the imagery on the coat of arms means?

[Zolotnik]

Hi -
Perhaps it has escaped your attention that this is a silver forum and that google translator exists....

The shown badge is from a firebrigade anniversary I suppose. Motto something like: One friend - a force of honor - TEVZ

Industrially manufactured - no hand engraving - white metal....

Regards
Zolotnik

[fashion.fashoff]

Hi -
Perhaps it has escaped your attention that this is a silver forum and that google translator exists....

The shown badge is from a firebrigade anniversary I suppose. Motto something like: One friend - a force of honor - TEVZ

Industrially manufactured - no hand engraving - white metal....

Regards
Zolotnik

Dear Zolotnik,

Thank you for your prompt reply.

This is not white metal but silver (tested) and gold (also tested, the applied sun design on the front). Any unusual coloration on the silver is due to lighting issues; I took the pictures with my phone and was unable to adjust the color levels in Ps before posting.

The pin is unquestionably and undeniably hand-chased and hand-engraved on the front. Details such as hammer marks and saw marks may not show up in my pictures, however I have over 20 years of professional experience with silver and can easily tell the difference between hand forged and machine made.

Do you (or others) recognize what any of the symbolism means specifically--the initials, the book with dates, the triple turret castle appearing atop the sunburst design (the sunburst is part of the Latvian coat of arms)?

How do you arrive at the conclusion that this is a fire brigade anniversary badge?

I attempted to utilise Google translate before posting and was unable to come up with anything that made sense beyond the first couple words. I am sorry that I do not speak Latvian or whatever language this is, and therefore cannot tell if some of the inscription is proper names, abbreviations, idiomatic language, etc. or simply standard words and phrases.


Regards

[Zolotnik]

Hi -

I want not doubt your 20 years of experience with silver - but the back has the typical casting marks. The attachment of the applications on the enamel with bent copper pins (normally riveted) is not exactly professional. Not to speak about the rigid Latvian assay and marking laws....In my eyes the helmet looks like the old Latvian firefighter helmet.

Here 2 examples of the often used Latvian sunburst - compare with your badge:





Regards
Zolotnik

[Zolotnik]

Hi -

forget to attach the Latvian firefighter badge:





Regards
Zolotnik

[fashion.fashoff]

Thank you!

It does look like the firefighter badge helmet!

Mine definitely has some crude aspects. It seems to have been cast from melted silver, then hand sawn and decorated on the front. The enameling itself is very well done, and probably taken from another piece and repurposed on this pin.

Although the symbols are somewhat crudely fastened with wire, the holes on the enamel piece seem to have been there already to accommodate them, or something else.

The book and initials, which I can't decipher, also appear commercially made, perhaps also taken from other pieces, suggesting their meaning is more readily identifiable (an organization, an event) than something personal which would not have been mass produced.

Its being handmade and kind of "cobbled together" like this probably explains the lack of proper hallmarks, although there is an assay zigzag mark on the back that is hard to see.

[blakstone]

It's a badge of Fraternitas Metropolitana, a Riga student corporation rather like a fraternity. The arms and motto ("Vienotiem spēkiem par godu, draugu, tēvzemi" = "Working together for honor, friends, country") are theirs. See Fraternitas Metropolitana on Wikipedia and the Fraternitas Metropolitana home page.

Hope this helps!