Topic: Old, Old....not sure if it is a Vase

[antiquerose123]

No sure if this is a vase, but I think it is.  Looks like it might be silver but right now it is BLACK.  It is fairly heavy, and feel like a weight in it.  I think this might polish up...should I try a little section or NOT.....

[antiquerose123]

...and here is the bottom ( =  ) with the flash.  the one above was with-out the flash....any ideas?

[ChimpMad]

It looks like copper Rose, and may be silver plated (probably epns). The weight is most likely a lead bung in the base to give it stability. Personally I wouldn't be tempted to polish it right up, I prefer a nice patina and polishing may make it look to harsh and 'new'. I'd rather just use a soft cloth and elbow grease to put some shine back into it, but if you are tempted to polish it, maybe start underneath on the inner rim and see what happens.

[Tigerchips]

Worse thing you could do to devalue it is to clean it.

If it's copper underneath, it might be worth checking out "Sheffield plate". But I don't know much about that.

[antiquerose123]

Hi there...
I still do not think it is copper, as that was just the reflection colors it was picking up, as in bits and places where you can see through the black...it looks silver (or silver colored) and yes, it does seem to have a lead bung in the base to give it weight.

Somewhere I had read that years ago this what was done to give weigh to this type of objects -- and also if it has this -- helps to date it as older, very older < 1900's

or could it be LEAD....made of, and in base...

Kinda trying to find proper name of it...??

http://www.kingrichards.com/products.php?uid=1991
http://www.kingrichards.com/products.php?uid=34762

[Anne]

Pewter or spelter perhaps, Rose?

[antiquerose123]

Hi Anne.........had to look up *spelter*.  Never heard of it before....hm-m-m-m-m.  see what you mean, but this looks like a patina on it, but that blob in the bottom (the weight) sort of looks like spelter. 

I am really *itching* to try a bit of polish on the bottom just to see what does show up....That would be OK, right?

[Anne]

The articles about cleaning old stuff which maybe damaged by the cleaning always say try a very small area underneath to see how it goes. I s'pose that if it goes funny then it won't affect the value too much on the base as it's out of sight.

But as always, go carefully! (and we take no responsibility if it all goes yucky or dissolves or whatever...!    )