My first time here and I know nothing about antiques. That being said, I have done secretarial work and a pound seems pretty heafty for a letter opener. I wonder if it was intended to be a decorative object in a planter. The “blade” would go into the dirt to anchor the figure on the surface. Just an idea.

My first time on site. Just bought a hammered copper footed bowl, which may be intended as a planter. The outside was mostly a rich red/brown hammered finish, but it appeared that someone had used an abrasive to try to get beneath that surface, probably to determine–I imagined–if it was solid copper, or what. These scratched areas looked white/silver and I guessed that it was tin that had been plated with copper. However, the inside seemed to be copper, so it didn’t make any sense that the inside would be plated, also. As I rubbed it with a brillo pad, i got beneath the white/silver and found what appears to be solid copper. The bowl has three feet that are soldered on, which my husband thinks means that it is old–that is, because they are soldered on.

Another curiosity is that the hammering inside the bottom is different–it looks more like nail heads whereas the rest looks more “lumpy”.

Since I have no knowledge of these things, I’m imagining that there is/was a lacquer on the surface that made the surface the red/brown color. Where it looked white/silver, maybe it was where the lacquer was marred, either by wear or by someone trying to determine what was under the surface.

Can anybody help? I have pretty good pics, and am going to try to post them. Seems I can only post one pic so I am choosing the one that shows entire piece and that shows where I have scrubbed off the red/brown surface coating on the right to expose the copper on the left.

Any ideas as to what this item is and it’s purpose. Found in an 1850’s farmhouse that I purchased. It has made for some interesting speculation. Inside the mouth is what looks like a hole punch but do not think this is the items purpose. Any help would be greatly appreciated in solving my mystery!! [img size=200]https://kovels.com/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/craigslist_009.jpg[/img]

I purchased a beautiful ram/goat sculpture that I think is bronze, signed “N Muller NY N5(something) on the underside of the base.

It has a beautiful green and brown patina, I think it is Nicholas Muller, the clockmaker who also may have done some sculptures, and I think it’s Victorian era. I can’t find anything about this paricular piece anywhere online, and I don’t think it’s spelter because of the patina. I’m curious to know if it’s bronze, how old it is and if it is a Nicholas Muller piece.

Thanks!

Recently I acquired an item that i believe is a letter opener. I would like to find some info. about it. I is approx. 8 1/2″ in length, weighs a little over a pound, I am thinking that is brass but not sure. The only markings i find is “BRUXELLES” Any ideas or where I might be able to find out more about this item I’d love to know. [img size=286]https://kovels.com/media/kunena/attachments/legacy/images/letter_opener-f6993425ef8a6366c25321202ee1f1c0.jpg[/img]