Beaded Watch Fob

[Ben Beam]

Went to the local antiques mall today and spent a few hours poking around. Found this item which a seller had marked as a "book mark," but I believe is actually a watch fob dating from around 1890-1920. Pattern and colors make me think Plains, but maybe someone with more knowledge can chime in.

https://imgur.com/a/6oSF6

The seller also had a matching set of beaded bracelet and ring in a lucky swastika pattern. I'm guessing the owner stuck it in a drawer in the late 30s and it hadn't seen the light of day since! Opted to pass on it. 

[St. George]

That's a bookmark.

Likely 1940s.

Scouts Out!

[Ben Beam]

How can I differentiate? It looks just like the ones I see when I search for "watch fob," and I see a number that have what appears to be an original clip (as on a watch chain)? Were they repurposed book marks? Genuinely curious; I know nothing, and what I'm learning is from the internet--not always the best source for information.

[Professor Marvel]

As St George points out, it looks more like a bookmark, the string (if thin enough) goes between
the pages. usually for a bookmark a very thin flat ribbon is used so as not to mar the pages.

A watch fob nearly always has a sort of attachment.

it seems "vaguely" northern plains pattern

are some of the background beads clear? I don't think anyone traditionally used clear....
and my lovely spousal unit looked at your photo and pointed out "that braid is new/unused" ....

here are some color info from crazycrow
http://www.crazycrow.com/site/native-american-tribal-bead-color-preference/

FYI, the "swastika" pattern is most lively reversed from the one used by hitler, and in any event it has been used as a sacred image all over the world prior to adolf absconding with it. In the Great Southwest, it is often called "whirling logs" or "whirlwind.

yhs
prof marvel

[Ben Beam]

I'll post better pics tomorrow. The braid is definitely not new, and the end has come unraveled a bit (ignore the green ribbon, that's from the vendor). The beads are that beautiful opalescent milky white that I've only seen in turn of the century Italian beads. Once I post better pics you'll see the details. It still could be 40s, don't get me wrong, but it's far from recent.

[Professor Marvel]

Sweeet! Thanks OSB

in the meantime, here is a page with some great photos from the Nez Perc museum
http://www.beadmatch.com/beadmatch_photos.html

yhs
prof marvel

[River City John]

This would be a good example of a beaded watch fob.



RCJ

[Ben Beam]

Here's some additional pictures: https://imgur.com/a/YX59e

The thread is truly a light tan color, that isn't a trick of the light. If necessary, I'll drag out my fancy camera and try and get a macro shot of the beads, but if you zoom in you can see details such as size variance, air bubbles, etc.

Here's an example of another supposed watch fob which is constructed similar to mine: https://imgur.com/a/V1QGX

[St. George]

See the clasp?

That's the common clasp for a fob.

These were made through the '40's and stayed in the souvenir stands for years.

Scouts Out!

[Books OToole]

This would be a good example of a beaded watch fob.



RCJ

I "need" one of those.

Books

[Professor Marvel]

See the clasp?

That's the common clasp for a fob.

These were made through the '40's and stayed in the souvenir stands for years.

Scouts Out!

My Dear St George -
Upon reflection , I humbly submit,
- that beaded watch fobs have been around since prior to that time,
- Native Americans  probably would not have included the hardware simply because they had no access to it.
- how would one attach a braided hair watch fob (common folk craft of the time) to a watch in 1880 or 1890
       if one did not have the hardware?
- The braided string (let alone the beads)  is "too thick" to be used as a bookmark without damaging the book.

more thoughts, folks?
OSB, please keep it coming!

yhs
prof marvle

[Coffinmaker]

Aw common youz guyz.  It's really simple.  It's one of those Beadie Thingies thatz normally attached to a Due Flopus.  Everybody knows that!!  Simple 

Coffinmaker

[Ben Beam]

Certainly at least some of them were used as watch fobs; the hardware likely attests to that (if not a watch fob it was certainly attached to something). But the ones I have seen called "book marks" appear to me identical in construction, shape, and size—the only difference is the lack of attachment hardware on the end, which could simply be due to it coming detached. It's large enough I can imagine it getting caught on things and pulled, and I'm guessing that the ones attached to a braid were the first casualties, as opposed to the ones with the much sturdier bracket affairs.

As a book mark goes it isn't particularly functional—if you put it in beads first it makes marks on the pages, and if you put it in braid first it falls out due to the weight I tend to agree with the professor. Are there any images or documentation somewhere of them being used as either a a bookmark or a watch fob, or is everyone simply guessing based on the construction and shape?

PS: These look very similar to the beads on this piece: https://www.etsy.com/listing/261410107/size-110-vintage-italian-seed-beads
Claimed production late 1800s to 1920. They have he same claimed opalescent, which doesn't show up well in photos, but they do look like opal.

[River City John]

I "need" one of those.

Books

Books,
it was on my Etsy site up until a week and a half ago. It went back east to Massachusetts.
And it was dang reasonable, too.


RCJ