MAY Pin - Sterling Silver Name Brooch - Hallmarked Birmingham 1910

With large bold capital letters clearly spelling the name 'MAY’ this is a very nice Sterling Silver bar Name Pin.  Made and assayed in Birmingham in 1910 with the classic anchor hallmark, the letter l and the makers mark of J.W. all marks clear to read.   It has a pleasing shape and is heavily decorated around the borders and at each end with slash engraving work.  Measuring a tad over 1.5 inches in length the silver name brooch is a little over half an inch at its widest point.   This brooch is in very good condition. I have left the patina indicative of its age but it could easily be buffed with a silver cloth if this was desired.  What a lovely gift it would be for a person named May or for a May birthday. Or you could add it to a collection of Antique Silver Name Brooches. 

It is reputed that these name pins were first worn by the servants in England's large country houses.    The pins quickly became a popular form of sweetheart brooch for the sentimental Victorians.  The popularity of the brooches continued  through the Edwardian period into the 1920's and there was a revival of these items during World War 2.  Materials used for name brooches include Silver, Gold, base metals and rolled gold wires, sometimes they are set with gems, diamante or paste or marcasite.  Names are also engraved and sometimes painted onto natural materials like  ivory, bone or Whitby Jet and early plastics like Bakelite, Celluloid, Casein and Lucite.  It was also popular to make brooches with the words 'Mother' and 'Baby' ;  with initials on or letters which make up a name in the form of a puzzle; with place names upon them or simply with sentiments like 'Best Wishes', 'Mizpah' (an old hebrew prayer which  translated  means 'may the Lord watch over us whilst we are apart' ) or the words 'Souvenir'.