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 Repousse Centrepiece Bowl
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| Author | Topic: Repousse Centrepiece Bowl |
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vez Posts: 9 |
posted 11-03-2021 10:54 AM
  
Hello All, I recently came across this item, After some light to moderate googling, I believe it can be described as a 'Double handled, repousse, footed, Jardiniere, centrepiece bowl'. I hope that by throwing out as many descriptors I could find, that some of them may even turn out to be correct. The feet and handles appear to be cast. Same goes for the ...rim, not sure if that's the right term? The rest I would think was hammered out of a single sheet of silver. The markings are of little help (to me anyway). It clearly shows 900 followed by an 'S' and what I believe is likely to be an 'I or L' but it's possible that character is the result of some sort of double strike or something like that. Overall, this piece is 24cm long, just under 10cm wide, and stands 11cm tall. I've found a similar example that was described as Italian (this one has additional markings that mine does not), but it also had a few common elements in its design with mine. This is also where the term 'Jardiniere' was tossed around. No idea what that means or refers to. I absolutely love the patina it has. In a previous thread I took part in, ahwt mentioned a blue cast that can develop on old sterling or plate. This one has it in droves. Blue and purple all over it. That being said, the comparable ones I've seen online have been polished to a nice shine and I can't say they look worse either. So i've got a few questions. First off, can anyone help me to date this? I suspect the markings are probably too vague to be of any use, but just a rough idea based on the style of the piece would interest me. Likewise the place of origin would be nice to know. I know that 900 silver was used throughout Europe from time to time so maybe its too hard to say on this piece? It's interesting to see that there doesn't seem to be much concern about marking and provenance on older pieces? Perhaps I'm reaching a bit on that and its not the case? Next, how common is it for something like this to include different aspects that are cast as well as hand made? What would you guys do? Polish it or leave it as it is? I know I've said that I love the look it has now, but I'm also tempted to see what it can look like with a little elbow grease. And the last thing I need to ask, what is it meant to look like properly presented, if it is in fact a 'centrepiece'? I'd love to know how its meant to be displayed. If anyone can help me with that, I might just have to try it out over the Hollidays this year. ...I take it you aren't just meant to dump a box of ritz crackers in it? Thanks everyone vez IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 11-03-2021 11:10 AM
 IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 11-03-2021 04:45 PM
One can use silver for whatever purpose one likes, though I think this bowl was originally intended to be a small (since it is only 24 cm) centerpiece bowl. Often one finds these larger to be in proportion to a more grand formal dinner table. Sometimes these also have a glass liner inside them. The .900 silver standard was in wide use in many countries around the world as a slightly lower silver purity from the Sterling standard (which is .925) What these numbers mean is how much pure silver is in the metal with .900 meaning it is 90 percent pure silver with 10 percent other metals such as copper and nickel. Sterling is 92.5 percent pure silver. One can find some countries where .950 is the standard, or lower amounts down to .800. One does not find 1.000 silver since silver without at least a small amount of alloyed metals is too soft to hold up. You can easily bend it with your fingers. As for what country, yes, Italy might be a possibility though that would not be my first guess as they tended to have more to their markings than just the silver content. Some examples of other countries where you can find .900 silver include China, Argentina, Germany, Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Japan, Egypt, Turkey, Lebanon, and more. With all of the room for a full marking and there being just what there is my guess is that it is less likely to be a European maker who tended to use fuller markings. As for date, it is hard to tell since once a design has been created somewhere it gets copied again and again long afterwards whenever someone decides they want something in that style. Maybe someone else here can give you something more definitive that this, but these are my thoughts at this point. It is a lovely bowl and I hope you use it at your dining table. IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 11-03-2021 06:42 PM
As Kimo noticed it is an attractive bowl, but may be too small for some things. It could made nice bread tray that could be passed around at your dinner table. I would not put any food in it without a napkin to protect the silver. Crackers are not a bad idea, except crackers often have a salt content that could pit the silver. I could also see being used to hold grapes. It you decide to polish it show a picture of the results. IP: Logged |
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dragonflywink Posts: 993 |
posted 11-05-2021 08:22 AM
To my eye, pretty much everything about it, including the marks, points to 20th century Turkish manufacture... ~Cheryl [This message has been edited by dragonflywink (edited 11-05-2021).] IP: Logged |
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Kimo Posts: 1627 |
posted 11-05-2021 07:09 PM
It is lovely as it is with the nice patina, but it would also be nice if you gave it a light cleaning or a light polish. The last thing you would want to do, though, would be to polish it with either a powered buffing wheel or any kind of liquid dip polish. Buffing wheels are too harsh on silver and you would quickly lose the nice details, and liquid polishes remove the dark oxidation from the nooks and crannies that give it its rich patina and three dimensional look of age. If you remove every bit of dark oxidation it would look like it was made yesterday which would be very sad for a lovely old bowl. Also, most liquid polishes contain thiourea which is a suspected cancer causing chemical in them that you really do not want around you or your family or pets. Get some nice ailver polishing paste and lightly polish with a clean 100 percent cotton cloth without getting down into the crevices. IP: Logged |
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Scott Martin Forum Master Posts: 11520 |
posted 11-05-2021 09:37 PM
Good advice Kimo.  IP: Logged |
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