Welcome to FLYING TIGER ANTIQUES & Vintage Historical Artifacts!!! !!
UPDATE: MONDAY APRIL 7th 2025: The FLYING TIGER ANTIQUES Crew is IN THE OFFICE Shipping Out Orders and Listing NEW Artifacts Daily!!!
We are IN THE OFFICE, and we are busy PACKING All the Orders we Received Over the Weekend, Thank you all VERY MUCH!!
We will be IN THE OFFICE for the foreseeable future through the end of MAY!!
Unfortunately we are STILL experiencing non-PayPal Credit Card Issues: working hard at fixing this!
So if you would like to PAY for a $100.00 or more Artifact with a CREDIT CARD, please Call or Email and I will get an invoice emailed to you ASAP, or Process the Purchase Myself!!
Meanwhile, we are busy packing orders and Pricing New Historical Artifacts for our Many COLLECTORS!!!
So, NOW is the TIME to ORDER that wonderful ARTIFACT that you've had your eye on, as it will SHIP within 24 to 48 Hours of Receipt of Payment, but USUALLY Same Day!
And DON'T FORGET: if funding your $100.00 or More Order from a Bank that offers ZELLE, ASK ABOUT our ZELLE DISCOUNT!!
That DISCOUNT also applies to PayPal GIFT (Fee-Free), Check, and Money Order purchases!!
Thank you for visiting. We hope you will find some vintage artifacts here on our site to add to your collection.
Happy Collecting, Ron & Kanae
ARTIFACT:
Extremely rare 1905 member badge for the Mystick Krewe of Comus New Orleans, Secret Mardi Gras Society.
Also known as the 'Ball Favor Pin', the ornate badge is a light blue enameled, five-point star with a clear faceted stone in the center and the date 1905 in an arc around the center, and the letters: "COMUS" at the end of each point in gilt detail. Surrounding are smaller raised star embellishments with clear prong set gemstones in the middle of each. The theme of the 1905 ball was The Lost Pleiad.
The organization was formed in 1856 by six businessmen during a meeting in the old Gem Restaurant located in the French Quarter and remains the oldest organization of New Orleans Mardi Gras festivities. The first Comus parade was held on Mardi Gras in 1857 and was an annual event until 1991, except during times of war. The Mystick Krewe's membership was incredibly secret and entrance to their balls was highly desired. One year a group of women tried to force their way into the Comus ball by way of a flying wedge and other individuals have tried to beg or steal their way in - the invitations themselves are highly sought by collectors for their rarity and beauty. The absolute secrecy of its members and activities led to the dissolution of their participation in the parade when the city passed an ordinance in 1991 requiring the release of its membership ledgers. The ordinance was passed in an effort to ensure that the membership and activities of social groups were not discriminatory, though overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court, the Mystick Krewe of Comus has not returned to parading since.
VINTAGE:
1905.
SIZE:
Approximately 1-5/16" in height x 1-5/16" in width.
MATERIALS / CONSTRUCTION:
Enameled gilt brass with paste stones.
ATTACHMENT:
Horizontal pin with 'C' type catch.
MARKINGS:
None.
ITEM NOTES:
This is from a societies and organizations collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. MBJX16 LIGEX4/16
CONDITION:
8- (Very Fine - Excellent): The badge shows minor to moderate wear, nearly all the gilt brass and enamel details remain intact, overall very fine condition.
GUARANTEE: As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.
