Pocket Watch Fob
Odd Fellows FLT Fraternal
Mother of Pearl
This vintage mother
of pearl fob is in good condition. It features The Independent
Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) Fraternal Organization logo.
The round Mother
of Pearl fob as a cent symbol with a blue enamel background
and 3 entwined ovals links with colors of enamel; white with
"F", blue with "L" and red with "T". Part of the blue enamel
background is missing. The backside of the fob is the nice and
smooth Mother of Pearl.
The fob measures
approx. 1 & 1/8" tall and 7/8" across. There is an "O" ring
at the top of the fob. I find no marks as to content of the
gold so I cannot assume it is solid gold. It is more likely
gold filled. It has not been polished this because most buyers
like the patina that comes with age.
Information
about the Odd Fellows:
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) is a fraternal
organization derived from English Odd Fellows orders of the
mid-1700s. The Patriotic Order in England was followed by the
Union of United Orders and the Loyal Order. In 1813, various
lodges of the Union Order organized the Manchester Unity of
Odd Fellows. Several unofficial lodges existed in New York City,
but American Odd Fellowship is regarded as being founded in
Baltimore in 1819, by Thomas Wildey, and the following year
affiliated with the Manchester Unity. Within a few years the
new American separated from the English Orders and formed the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Its ladies' auxiliary is known as the Rebekahs. Both the Odd
Fellows and Rebakahs have higher branches known as Encampments
and Patriarchs Militant.
Today, some branches of the order (ie: some countries) allow
women to join the Odd Fellows itself, leading the Rebekahs to
have declined in importance. The higher branches and their degrees
is somewhere regarded as being of less importance, or too time-consuming,
and are (in some countries) gradually being abandoned.
Item Number: f011
