Figure Amid The Ruins, Apt for 2025 1988 Brass Brooch name tags I might guess this carving

I might guess this carving is Southeast Asian / Pacific Islands (I have included an example from Timor for reference)

Then I spotted this one at a great antiques shop in Pennsylvania and fell in love

and a great place to stash important papers or all sorts of things

The paint decoration is original to it and just gorgeous (makes me think of early 19th c

Medal is in very good

Figure Amid The Ruins, Apt for 2025 1988 Brass Brooch name tags I might guess this carvingI am always interested in the conversation between vintage antique objects and the present moment, and what is happening in the larger world always informs what I buy because it shapes what feels resonant hence this 1988 brooch, which, with shadowy figure standing amid the ruins, feels to me completely apt for the moment. Also very 1980s post mod. 2 1 16 w x 1 13 16 t and in excellent condition. Marked JJ 1988 on reverse.