Help With Inlaid Brass Pen Tray ID

Hi folks-
Greetings from misty, gloomy southwestern Pennsylvania. Please help me with any information regarding this inlaid brass pen tray. There are no identifying marks. Well I think it's a pen tray. Length is 8-3/4" from handle to handle. The brass is inlaid with wood which is inlaid with brass decoration, a spray of flowers with a bow. The feet screw off and on. Forgive the muddy pictures. We haven't touched it and I'm not sure how to go about it, but the lack of contrast between the unpolished brass and wood makes it hard to see what's going on. Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

This is the same size and listed as a pen tray.
https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/74276...-nouveau-pen-tray-with-brass-inlay-brass-wood

 

Thanks. Yes I saw that one. You're right, there are similarities.

 

Reminded me of Erhard & Sohne

 

Beautiful tray Lew.Will really sparkle once the wood's conserved a bit-it looks like it's lost some of it's lacquer.

 

Thanks for all your observations. The more I investigate Erhard & Sohne the more it seems like an intriguing (person of interest-type) attribution. They certainly made some exquisite stuff. Does anyone know how I might improve the appearance of this tray? I don't want to risk damaging it. (First do no harm. Will I remember that this time?!) Any thoughts are very welcome.

 

Here's a piece attributed to Sohne,the wood seems in good shape (mahogany or rosewood perhaps). You might ask @verybrad about tips on restoring it.

PS-Much of Sohne's work seems more geometric in the Jugenstil style.Your piece is more of a flowing floral Nouveau motif-perhaps an early work.

 

Isn't that exquisite. You're right...I'm not seeing anything with curves save for when incorporated into a fiercely geometric jugendstil structure. Regardless, it's interesting to think that, at least, whoever made this pen tray must certainly have been aware of the work of Erhard & Sohne. Why this is satisfying I couldn't say.

 

If this is lacquered originally, you will need to strip away any existing finish before this could be polished. Lacquer thinner should work but would advise against soaking this, as it could affect the adhesive holding the wood.

 

Thank you verybrad. I will try this and get back with the results.

 

Project complete. What do you think? Again, thanks to verybrad for the guidance. Do we still think it might possibly be Erhard & Sohne?

 

It's beautiful Lew,You brought it back to life-congrats !

 

Thanks. I knew you folks would enjoy seeing it.

 

Lost link.

 

now it's pretty pretty !!!
good job Lew !!

 

Thanks. Now to run it up the flagpole and see if someone salutes.

 

Very nice!