Copper? planter

I've just dug this up. Not sure if it is bronze or copper. I'm swaying towards copper. The shop assistant enthusiastically told me how she polished it. Looks like it had some good patination so i wagged my finger at her and furrowed my brow disapprovingly. I doubt she will dar polish any metal ware again. Any ideas of its origins anyone? Google is making me think french but it was found in England so who knows. No obvious marks.

 

Nice piece-is the bottom/base hollow & weighted w/ sand & does it unscrew like a silver candlestick ?
Do you see any traces of hand-hammering (planishing)?
PS-I hope you didn't 'spank' em too hard (if their prices were cheap that is !). But it does sound like it was impactful seminar on polishing (destroying) orig finish.

 

Thanks for reply. I'm just glad they left the patina in the recesses and inside it. The foot seems to be brazed on and there is no cavity to weight. I can't see any endentations either. I guess this means it was pressed?

 

The patina is still there, it is just the tarnish that is gone. What you see in the recesses is tarnish, not patina. And yes, copper.
It could have been made anywhere in Western Europe imo.

This item would have been polished during most of its history. Copper items have been polished since the beginning of the use of copper, not much wrong with that. If you prefer tarnish, look for a tarnished item.

 

ya, it's got a lovely rich copper glow...

 

looks like a spittoon

 

I thought the same. Not as wide a brim as most, but they did have this model as well.
Good thing the shop assistant cleaned it then.

 

[QUOTE="Any Jewelry,
Good thing the shop assistant cleaned it then.[/QUOTE]

hence the expression spit and polish

 

Noooooooooo

You've ruined it.

Thanks for the info.

 

Yes I can just picture things dangling off the rim now. Lovely.

 

I would have definitely gone for it being a planter, not a spittoon. I can just imagine an aspidestra in that on a stand!

 

Spittoon, yes, but it would take a plant nicely.

 

I'm going with planter, rather than spittoon. I think the swags and the leaf decoration point in that direction, as well as the shape. And that short wide mouth... no one wants to see the contents of a used spittoon!

I do agree that the polishing did not appear to damage the patina and that the tarnish still needs to be removed from the recesses. As AJ said, patina and tarnish are two different things.

 

opening ' is ' pretty wide open for a spitter !!