Opinions on 1939 spange EK2

[Rik]

Can you give me your opinion on this spange?
I've posted it before a few years back but didn't get a thumbs up / thumbs down so I've made a few new pictures of it.






Thanks.

[Robert P.]

This shares a few similar features of the Ziemer & Sohne 'Big Eye' spange, but IMO it just doesn't hold up to an original.

The eye looks too far back on the head. The obverse wing detail is 'spotty' like a casting. And, are those casting seams showing on the side view photo?

Here is an original to compare...Chris, I hope you don't mind me using your photo to illustrate. I'll remove if you object.

[Rik]

With seams you mean the circled area below?




I noticed that the left win tip is missing looking closely at it I presume it broke off. But have you ever seen this strange chunk missing at the neck of the eagle?
(hope you understand what I mean because I can't give it a name.)

[Rik]

double post

[Robert P.]

Yes, I know what you mean by 'chunk'. It's odd, but I've seen this before on other badges in the past. Does the seam around the edge have any flashing to it, a very thin layer coming out from the seam?

[Rik]

Don't exactly know wat you mean by that, but I don't think so.
Do you have an example?

[Robert P.]

Well, I guess if you can't see it, it's not there. 'Flashing' is a very thin 'outcropping' from the seam where the halves of the cast dies have met. It may be very minute. I'm still not comfortable with the 'spotty' details on the wings, but we could be looking at patina effect. Do you feel any small bumps/bubbles on the wings?

[Rik]

Sorry for my ignorance but do you mean the front or the side?

Front I feel the lines of the feathers.
Side i can feel the relief but no bumps or bubbles.

[tinmantis]

Hi guys
I feel that Sauron's is a good one. Like Robert, I've seen that kind of 'damage' before. I'm not sure it would have made it passed quality control though?
To make things more interesting, I've documented 2 Ziemer dies. Chris's is one (in it's full breathtaking beauty) and Sauron's is the other.
Chris's seems to be the less encountered, but both IMO authentic
and
Not only do I/we call this type of spange 'Big Eye' for recognizability (is that a word?)
but I might start calling 'Chris's die': 'Cut-Throat' as it has an extra vien at it's throat (for recognizability of course)

regards
jon

[tinmantis]

unless it's cast!