Brass Frame Emergency: The mistake of my life?

To me it does. 1920's = not Victorian era + generally less valuable.

 

Just having been touched makes a difference in what old brass will look like. I don't see anything that remotely resembles having been gold plated. Maybe painted.

 

Hasn't "real" gilding not been in practice since the 19th century ? I mean the mercury/gold method. So what does "gilded" really mean ? And even if its gold leaf gilded,who would put that much money in a "meh" frame ? All just my opinion,of course.

 

Hmmm I don't recall empire sconces-might they have been called something else in the OP's title? Not too busy today, give me a link to that one and I'll check it out and take responsibility if I was wrong, which is very likely if I was sticking my neck out to say anything about sconces! Last thing I want is a guilty sconscience.

 

I didn't remember correctly. It was someone else who said that.

 

If you had to prove in court the earliest this could have been made, just for fun, what would you need?

-dated catalog showing one identical
-dated photo, same
-patent with drawing of same thing
-discover some process or component of it not available before xxxx date
-????

 

factory catalog showing it for sale as a brand new addition to their line of items

 

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