031917-3/RL-1058

This is a Chinese metal vase with two dragons. The vase dates to circa 1900.

The vase is about 6 ¼” high and 2 ¼” wide at the belly.

Most of the vase is made of hammered copper, with designs in the copper. The dragons, the edges and the feet look like sterling silver, but there is no hallmark so I am going to say the metal is one of the pot metals that looks like silver, perhaps white metal. There is a silver metal bulge on the neck, with designs in the metal, and a silver metal band around the belly with attached silver metal ornamentation.

The entire metal vase is covered in tarnish and patina, including the silver metal.

There are three ruby red glass cabochons on the belly, surrounded by metal, and with a bit of metal residue on the glass.

Both of the dragons have a seam at the top of the head. The feet appear to be welded to the vase, not glued. The dragons have intricate designs in the metal as you can see by looking at the legs and the back.

This is an old piece. I leave it to the buyer to clean the vase and polish it up if desired. I am not a metal expert. I rarely put metal into my shop. However I know enough that buyers like their metal left alone and not polished.

There is a small dent in the belly in the vicinity of the silver metal band.