Maker Mark on possible mother's Brooch - resembles Gahr style

[Capt. R]

better photos of the mark - anyone ever see anything else like this mark? Could be a maker mark or a hausmarke perhaps

[Capt. R]

4

I located the following information regarding the 4 figure stamp seen on this brooch:

This stamp is a hausemark and the basic 4 figure found in these designs indicate a family trademark before the modern term "trademark" was established. It was an identity mark of a product made, sold, and shipped by particular families and often resembled coats of arms but without swords or spears, as that was reserved for military aristocracy.

Many of these marks used by tradesmen were constructed on a Latin cross or a figure 4 which was of Germanic origin dating back to around the 11th or 12th century it seems.

The 4 may have possessed a dual significance. It indicated both the tradesman's adherence to high ethical standards within their practice as well as a guarantee of fair weights and measures.