A bolo tie slide?
This was in with my ancestors jewelry. Probably belonged to my Great Great Uncle, who was in the locket I posted. He was used to the finer things in life before he moved West from the East Coast. He was from Industry Maine. His parents owned a major manufacturing company there. Him and his brother forfeited their rights to the family fortune when they left the area.
I doubt any of my other ancestors would have had something like this.
The pearl appears to be real.
Does anyone know if there is a significance to the things that look like crosses/birds? They appear to have a copper inlay in them. It was impossible for me to get a photo where they are not blurry.
Not a bolo slide and of course not Southwestern Native. It’s way too old to be meant for a bolo, in that meaning. Bolo ties came about in the 1930s at earliest.
The four-pointed pieces look a bit like crude fleur de lis shapes, though I can see how you see a bird shape. It gives off Victorian Etruscan jewelry vibes, seeming to be hollowform base metal with a gilt wash. Interesting!
Thanks for the info.
I found a Fleur de Les pin in the same container.
It appears to be enameled, but has a strange back. Will post that another time.
Also have a locket pin with a fleur de les on the top by the pinback.
There is a bola tie type mens adornment in traditional Bavarian, Austrian, Tyrolian “Tracht”. It’s called a “Hemdkordel” and is worn in exactly the same manner as a bola tie. With significant German immigration to Texas in the 1800s and its influence in traditional western fashion, I find myself wondering if that isn’t where the “bola tie” tradition may have originated in the first place. A quick Google Images search for Hemdkordel should bring up plenty of examples,
I agree with @StevesTrail
A Victorian chain slide.
These chains were used by ladies to suspend pocket watches.
This lady has her watch tucked into her waistband.
