A small, solid brass badge with a deeply moulded domed face. At one end sits a raised circular boss carrying a worn relief device, framed by a band of small beaded or berried detail and a curved spray of leaves. From behind this rise a fan of long, pointed, flame-like or leaf-like rays, giving the piece the classic silhouette of a flaming grenade device. The metal has a warm yellow-gold tone across the raised areas where it has been handled, with much darker, almost chocolate-brown toning settled into the recesses and along one side. The reverse is hollow-cast and shows the concave underside of the domed front, finished in a dark brown and gold mottled tone. Two long brass lugs project from the back and are secured with a steel or brass split pin, which passes through both lugs and is held in place by two dark reddish-brown washers or grommets. No maker's name, regimental title or other lettering is legible anywhere on the badge in these photographs.

Background
Two-lug fittings secured with a split pin are the standard British and Commonwealth method of attaching regimental collar badges, cap badges and other insignia to a uniform, and were in use across the late Victorian period, both World Wars and well into the post-war era. The flaming grenade device seen here is one of the oldest and most widely used emblems in the British Army, worn by fusilier regiments, the Royal Artillery, the Royal Engineers, the Honourable Artillery Company, the Grenadier Guards and others, with the number and arrangement of flames and the design on the ball traditionally distinguishing one unit from another.

Because the raised device on the ball of this badge is worn and no scroll, motto or title is legible, it is not possible to attribute the badge to a specific regiment or corps on the evidence of these photographs. It is offered for what it plainly is - a small vintage brass lug-fitted badge of grenade form, complete with its original split pin - and buyers should draw their own conclusions on unit and date. Common single brass collar badges of this kind trade in a modest price band on the collector market.

Condition
Pre-owned in Good condition for its age. Honest age-related wear throughout. The high points of the design are rubbed and softened from handling and polishing, and the relief device on the circular boss is worn down to the point where it can no longer be read. There is uneven toning across the badge, with the recesses and one flank going a dark brown, and some darker spotting and dulling in the deeper crevices. The reverse is noticeably darker and patchy, with dark residue in the hollow of the casting. Both lugs are present, intact and firm, though they are darkened and lightly scuffed. The split pin is present and functional but is tarnished and discoloured, and the two washers or grommets on it are worn and dark reddish-brown. No cracks, splits or repairs are visible, and no part of the design appears to be broken or missing. Supplied loose as pictured, with its lugs and split pin fitted. Please review all of the photographs closely, as they show the actual item you will receive and form part of this description.

Who it's for
One for militaria and badge collectors, especially anyone who buys unattributed or "needs identifying" insignia to research, and for collectors assembling a run of brass lug-fitted badges. Also worth a look for re-enactors and uniform builders wanting a period-style brass grenade device, for jewellers and crafters repurposing old brass findings into brooches or cufflinks, and for anyone who simply likes small, well-modelled vintage brass objects.

Estimated Date
Not established. The two-lug and split-pin fitting, solid brass construction and grenade-form design are consistent with British military insignia from the late 19th century through to the mid 20th century, but with no legible markings, maker's name or regimental title the badge cannot be dated more closely than that from the photographs. No year has been entered in the item specifics for that reason.

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