Stick Pins

Saw some stick pins for sale, presented in a pin cushion.  Thought this was a good idea to display ours too, rather than them hidden away unseen in a jewellery box, so what better than a 1/6^th gill barrel spirit measure 😊.

The German submarine and Royal Naval Association pins belonged to my dad.  I think that the submarine one came from a trip to a naval base at some point and the red, RNA life member one from an antique, curio shop or stall, possibly West Bromwich market, way back.  He was never made a life member himself but would have bought it to look after on behalf of the owner.

The others came from a great-uncle and aunt, I believe.  The vibrant green and purple enamel of the Scottish Thistle pin reminds me of a 2^nd Armoured Regiment (1^st Polish Armoured Division) badge that I recently acquired.  The Church of England Men’s Society (CEMS) one, together with its slightly larger, buttonhole with horseshoe-type fastener version (still in the jewellery box) is, perhaps, an organisation to which my great-uncle would have once belonged.  Finally the gold one, with its 15ct stamp apparently dating it between 1854 and 1931, with star with ruby centre flanked by crescent moons (maybe).  Never quite sure whether they are decorative flowers above and below, or the empty mounts of long-gone diamonds!