Art Nouveau Antique Pressed Horn Sash order Pin

This piece is such a marvel! By its large size and unusual “heart” shape, it is almost certainly a sash pin. It is from the Art Nouveau (1890-1910) period, with its characteristic flowing lines and stylized nature imagery, in this case, snaking vines with a three-lobed leaf in latticework. It is quite lightweight, which suggests one of the early “plastics,” that is to say, a material that could be easily manipulated under heat. I believe it is pressed horn, which was flattened and molded, with this incredible delicate detail work impressed on the surface. It has a brass pin back with a c-clasp. The piece is very dark, nearly black, and measures 8cm x 6cm (3 3/16” x 2 3/8”) at its widest points. There is certainly some wear, consistent with the age and order delicacy of this pin. What a fabulous find!