Can we talk about Ormolu? Gilded repousse umbrella stand...

Discussion in 'Metalware' started by scoutshouse, Mar 22, 2019.

  1. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Need help on age here, but also wondering about the metals. I see gilding over reddish brown metal with some green oxidation, which I read as bronze. So, is this ormolu?

    I'm trying to figure out if I it makes sense to pay someone to rework that soft bent/dented area. It wouldn't be too difficult to fix myself, but if it's a more rare piece, I'd rather not. I wouldn't attempt to change the surface, just the dent, with EXTREME caution (meaning padded implements).

    Some I've found were hod carriers with hand-drawn designs, which this is not. Those are the pieces with crazy prices. Some "early 19th century pieces" are priced extremely low.

    Whatever it is, it's super-charming and has a nice, marked weight on the bottom.

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  2. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    Dent....Shment...........leave it alone !!
    It's lovely just the way it is !!!!
     
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  3. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    What he said. Ormolu is a very heavy (& poisonous) application of gold. This looks like it was originally very thin & light. I like the bronze.
     
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  4. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    You're both just as welcome to talk me down from the cliff of repairing it, @komokwa and @Bronwen !!!

    You mean the gilding was thin and light? or the metal?

    So gilded bronze, but not the heavy application used in ormolu? The definition just says gilded bronze, but then explains the composition and process to lay down and fuse gold to the surface of metal - which is different from simple gilding, right?
     
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  5. judy

    judy Well-Known Member

    I agree. It IS lovely!
     
  6. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    The birds get me every time! The rest is not for me :)

    Can anyone help out with ID and origin? La promenade suggests French, but... IDK
     
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  7. Hollyblue

    Hollyblue Well-Known Member

    Looks like it is die stamped and not repousse.
     
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  8. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Yes, didn't mean to state it is repousse - the search term that turns up so very many who do believe it to be repousse, or just use it because so many others do. Also, I think some think repousse is the effect, not the process.

    So several elements (5 here) are stamped, then shaped and welded together.

    Die stamped relief.

    BTW: the band, seams, rolled edge on the base and the weight are all magnetic - nothing else.
     
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  9. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    I mean the amount of gold that was used to make it look gold. If my understanding of ormolu is at all correct, it would not be nearly all gone this way. Think it would also have been a bit de trop for an umbrella stand & have made something that sat in the front hall catching wet umbrellas a very expensive proposition. It was used to gild clocks & decorative pieces that were shown off in relatively safe circumstances.
     
  10. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    Ormolu is heavy gold decoration.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ormolu

    I would not call this ormolu.
    Does a magnet stick?
    I looks like brass plated copper.

    Could be 1920s/30s or 1950s/60s.
     
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  11. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    Would like to point out that I doubt an umbrella stand would have been gold plated.
    And the more I think about it, it may just be stamped brass.


    Doesn't brass turn red when it has oxidized?
     
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  12. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

  13. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

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  14. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Not repousse or hand done in anyway, which I was trying to say here.

    Agree, not ormolu - and not thinking ormolu is gold plating, but a form of heavy gilding with gold(!) - right???
    Bronwen's comp catawiki: So cheap!!
    Signed with the letters: M N D.
    From France, period early 1900.

    cluttered's: I know you were all sharing methods to extract final price on Etsy... can anyone give me the proper string to search on this page source?
    Antique umbrella holder or Rod holder in copper and brass hammered and repelled. It is a beautiful French Manufactory of the 50s

    • Wonder how they're dating these?
    • Wish I could fine one with that signed weight...
    • So, brass plating over copper?
    • Gold/gilding plating is a bit confusing to me, apparently
     
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  15. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

  16. Bronwen

    Bronwen Well-Known Member

    Think this is it:

    priceCurrency": "EUR",
    "availability": "https:\/\/schema.org\/OutOfStock",
    "lowPrice": "218.00",
    "highPrice": "218.00"
     
  17. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

    Thanks @i need help and @Bronwen

    Gives no mark info or detail of bottom...

    I don't have an account, either - but this is what comes up - Final bid $79.00

    Netherlands - 1910-1930
    Object: Walking cane or umbrella stand with weight
    Material: Copper
    Estimated Period: 1910-1930
    Country of Origin: Netherlands
    Condition: Fair condition - heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing
    Height: 61 cm
    The diameter on the top is 21 cm
    Diameter on the bottom is 24 cm
    Due to the original weight in the bottom, this stand is very stable and weigh 2.8 kg.

    Maybe "Out of Stock" is a good way to find "Final price," since that's etsy for "Sold"

    If it is, it would be cool because it only comes up once! :)
     
    Last edited: Mar 22, 2019
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  18. i need help

    i need help Moderator Moderator

    I wonder if D.F. Is Depose France?
     
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  19. scoutshouse

    scoutshouse Well-Known Member

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  20. clutteredcloset49

    clutteredcloset49 Well-Known Member

    Please note the shape as compared to yours.

    The one I posted 1950s
    upload_2019-3-22_23-4-32.png

    Brownwen's and INH's have no "backsplash" and the metals appears thicker.
    upload_2019-3-22_23-5-33.png upload_2019-3-22_23-8-33.png
     
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