Featured Two Chinese metal trinket boxes.

Just picked these up. No marking so I’m a little lost. My photos are not accurately showing the reflexive shine but thinking there is a 9% chance they are silver. Magnet will not stick to either of them. In either case I practically stole them as I would have paid the same for the wood stand. Can’t consider them fine silversmith workmanship which leads me to plated but still they have a great look for displaying. I know it is difficult to determine via online photos so calling all but definitely @MrNate for your thoughts. Aside from material might this have been a late 20th century gift or do you think it might have some age? *crosses fingers*

The smaller box(Butterfly) 3.75 inch L X 2.9 inch H
The happiness gold fish(koi fish) 4 inch L X 2.5 inch H

Thank you for looking

 

Pewter?

 

I thought pewter as well. Or maybe zinc . I dont think actual silver would be so thick . I like them ,and I love that stand.

 

The metal might be "paktong", a Chinese alloy of copper, nickel, and zinc. The name is derived from "bai tong", meaning white copper.

 

Thanks all for your inputs. I’ll rule out pewter, as I have handled many items over the years, although from the photo’s I can see why it was considered. As originally posted there is a definite silverish shine not coming out in the photos and I haven’t even wiped them down let alone cleaned them. This paktong is interesting and new to me. Been reading on it. I agree with Johnny, they are thick and square, not normally associated with silver I’ve encountered. It has a bit of a ring to it when I tap the lid to the body. I read paktong resembles silver; it is slow to tarnish, wears well and was used occasionally in the eighteenth century, which would be a great find for me. Do they still use it and are there ways to test for it.

 

I’m with you on that *thumbs up* the stand caught my eye first. Looking inside it, it is really filthy but I didn’t want to clean it up just yet.

 

Paper towel came out jet black. Look like stainless steel but not ferromagnetic. Scuffs and roughness is normal throughout the bottom.

‘well what ever I love thos fish

 

Just based on photos, I would assume silver plated. Asian/Chinese items with crude edges always catch my attention in a bad way. I wouldn’t rule out a low grade silver, but the production quality concerns me; to use big pieces of silver to assemble the boxes and to not take the time/artistry on a piece is a lower probability. The hinges also look crude, are they riveted? I would expect if silver they would have soldered them more solidly. Inconclusive until acids tested, but my guess is leaning towards plated unfortunately.

How heavy do the boxes feel?

 

Thank you Mr Nate. I value your opinion very much.