1920’s Vase?

I’m home visiting and my mother mentioned she would like to know more about this item.

She says it was purchased as a wedding gift for my great grandmother by her co-workers (a group gift) and estimates it to be from around 1920. She was in America then, I think New York.

To me it looks hand made, but my mother is very sure it was purchased. What do you think?

Any ideas on artist or manufacture?

 

Just turning them around, Tanya!!





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Could have been made most anywhere. Similar were made in the US during that time period but a lot of this kind of thing came from Europe and the Middle East. The prominent joint around the center, makes me think the latter.

 

I suppose there are no marks on the bottom? There are some impressions at about 6:00 in the photo, but may just be random.

 

Would have been a bit passe in the 1920s, but as a group gift, they might have gone for the old stock rather than the avantgarde. Try to see if those markings come to something.

 

The first thing I thought when I saw it was Turkey. Just reminds me of stuff out of the Mediterranean region. Looks to be hand hammered copper with brass handles. If memory serves me there were bits like this coming out of France modeled after old Greek pieces circa 1920.

It is possible this was hand made during the time period in question, and even more possible the final assembly was done by hand during this period. Lots of "artisan" type stuff going on but....that kind of stuff would typically be maker and artisan signed; one, the other or both.

I believe these are called urns or amphora, but I suppose it could simply be a vase Maybe someone with more expertise will chime in!

 

No, unfortunately no markings

 

Interesting discussion. Can I maybe ask: Where does one look for or research artisan names/initials or signatures. And if it says the words ‘Hand Beaten’ on the copper pot. Does that by default mean “by a artisan and a newer piece? Thanks

 

It depends upon your goals. If you mean on the piece, they are usually on the bottom but can be on the rim or the underside of a lid. Regardless, they'll be somewhere on the piece if present. If you mean identifying a maker or artist, I have a collection of books on Jewelry from recognized industry experts - the field I enjoy most. I also use the heck out of google and have a ton of resource websites bookmarked to include auction history sites. Dealers can buy and hoard auction catalogs from around the world for additional reference material. You can travel as far down a rabbit hole as your time and patience allows....lol

Hand beaten is what a bad cook does to a kitchen pot

Here is a quick video that shows what people mean by hand hammered...



No, like most anything you can use machines to make many of the things that used to be truly handmade. We tend to value these things far less.

Stuff is still handmade today. You pay a hefty premium, but you usually get a "generational" piece like our forefathers did, and not the throw away pieces we've become so accustomed to that keep our landfills overflowing with waste.

 

Thank you for the reply. I also enjoyed the video (very cool) I realise my question was badly worded. I meant identifying the maker/artist. The copper pot I have looks really old,but it’s engraved ‘hand beaten with some initials’ on the bottom. I will continue searching on google as you suggested. Many thanks

 

Yes indeed that looks very old. Whatever you do, don't polish it

 

So the design on this looks like tee-pees. Just an assumption as I cannot enlarge the picture to get a clear view. If they are, it may have been made for a tribe in the 18th or 19th century. Could be quite a nice find. I would start your own post on this and include some higher quality images. I believe you may find what you have is a circa 18th century spittoon, that would be my humble uneducated opinion. History on the piece, if you have any, would be good to include as well.

 

Wow. Thanks so much for the advice and information/leads. Sounds like the pot may definitely have some intriguing history (and hopefully I can discover more) I will also renew my efforts on the ‘rabbit-hole’ that is Google (but now at least I have some direction)

 

JMHO.
these dovetail joints were mostly used for everyday items. and are still tested in certain final apprentice tests for sanitary workers, French ferroniers etc..
as rule of thumb: heavy handles in cast brass combined with copper - rather German speaking countries.
simple handles in copper - here probably simple "pinched" hollow tubes - rather France and southern countries.
there are of course other conditions to be looked at. size, form, artistry etc..


height one meter !

 

Interesting information and those are some impressive examples. Really like the 1metre in height one,just unique.

 

it is most probably a unique piece. bought it at an auction where the remnants of a well-known collector were sold.

 

Thank you!!

 

Love, love, love, love, love....the spiral vase

 

rather rare in copper. most spiral stuff - torsadé in French - are in glass.

 

Hand beaten, in my experience, usually means non-American. We tend to use hand hammered. I am sure there are exceptions and your's may be one, with the teepee motif. Looks like the product of an individual artisan as opposed to being from a shop. May never find who made this.