Ok, almost done. Note that the profile is Thick - thicker than a dime. This is hand hammered, hand worked metal - brass, bronze? Definitely silver in here. This was made by a silversmith - within the last 10 years. I guess he's carrying on the traditiion.
I think these are enough pictures. This should be enough to keep the unwary from spending their hard-earned dosh on this type of forgery.
Last detail - perhaps the most disturbing of all of this.
A clear, reddish lacquer has been applied at the joint where the bottom banner and the silver wreath meet -to seal it. Likewise, at the top of the badge, where the CCCP is affixed, again, a clear, reddish lacquer has been applied, as if to seal it, to preserve it from moisture seeping into the joint over the years.
And finally, on the back, where the rivets are peened over the tiny holes they fit into, wherever there is space, an incredibly small ring of lacquer has been hand applied to seal the joint from moisture. I couldn't have done this, with a tiny brush and a loupe, unless I practiced for years. This took a lot of skill.
What does this suggest? That the forger doesn't want his handiwork spoiling over the years?? Or is he trying to make us think that this was the work of, perhaps, a museum, some method of bygone years to preserve badges? Honestly, when I first detected this, I thought - hmmm.....lifted from a Soviet-era museum after the collapse? Makes sense, with the economic crises that were occurring throughout Russia and the former Republics during the 90s, and with all of the subsequent crime. Stolen OGPU Badge? Do I really want the SVR after me?
But no - luckily, it's just a case of "The OGPU Forger" strikes again!
Ok - I hope all of this is of interest to youse guys!
Has anyone else seen OGPU/NKVD forgeries/spurious fantasy pieces of this quality?
For the right price, I might start collecting these as place holders. I'm willing to bet that "The OGPU Forger"s work may one day, years from now, be valuable in its own right!
John
I think these are enough pictures. This should be enough to keep the unwary from spending their hard-earned dosh on this type of forgery.
Last detail - perhaps the most disturbing of all of this.
A clear, reddish lacquer has been applied at the joint where the bottom banner and the silver wreath meet -to seal it. Likewise, at the top of the badge, where the CCCP is affixed, again, a clear, reddish lacquer has been applied, as if to seal it, to preserve it from moisture seeping into the joint over the years.
And finally, on the back, where the rivets are peened over the tiny holes they fit into, wherever there is space, an incredibly small ring of lacquer has been hand applied to seal the joint from moisture. I couldn't have done this, with a tiny brush and a loupe, unless I practiced for years. This took a lot of skill.
What does this suggest? That the forger doesn't want his handiwork spoiling over the years?? Or is he trying to make us think that this was the work of, perhaps, a museum, some method of bygone years to preserve badges? Honestly, when I first detected this, I thought - hmmm.....lifted from a Soviet-era museum after the collapse? Makes sense, with the economic crises that were occurring throughout Russia and the former Republics during the 90s, and with all of the subsequent crime. Stolen OGPU Badge? Do I really want the SVR after me?
But no - luckily, it's just a case of "The OGPU Forger" strikes again!
Ok - I hope all of this is of interest to youse guys!
Has anyone else seen OGPU/NKVD forgeries/spurious fantasy pieces of this quality?
For the right price, I might start collecting these as place holders. I'm willing to bet that "The OGPU Forger"s work may one day, years from now, be valuable in its own right!
John
