Featured Quick little game - what would you pay

Good Evening Everyone,

As promised, I have a quick game for you. The name of the game is "what would you pay". Here's the photos you have to work with, my only question: how can you make a reasonable determination of the value of this item (and therefore the amount you would consider paying for it)?

 

I like the thickness of the metal used on the base, and the way the top rim is turned over on itself.
both suggest to me that this is a heavy vase...
I'd risk $ 50

 

the bracelet on the right..... is a 2 inch ( left to right ) monster.
it weighs 118 grams.....more than the next two biggest put together, because the artist used a horrendously thick gauge of silver .

It helps me think your vase is also thick.....
if that sounds reasonable to you !

 

This would be dangerous, but for the sake of not having any skin in the game and having a fun guess:

1. Calculate the average outside diameter of the object (transferring the ruler measurement to another device to measure width)
2. Guess at the average thickness of material based on edge thickness at base, and then adjust for a thinner material for the body (possibly have a max and a min)
3. Subtract the average thickness (x2) from the outside diameter to get a hollow walled cylinder
4. Using those measurements and the height, calculate the weight mass based on the density of silver

Using inches:

• Outside average: 1.5
• Thickness: 0.0625 (0.0625 * 2 = 0.125)
• Outside - material thickness = 1.3750
• Silver density: 0.3790 lbs/in^3
• Estimated weight of vase: 1.016 pounds
• At today's prices, its scrap value is $318.23 USD

With all that, I'll venture I'm way off

 

I would risk $75 but would keep it until Silver goes up! I would use it until sterling goes up.

 

Using the mark and number on the base, I was able to find another with its original stopper and what it sold for. Weight was also listed so figure the price received was wholesale and would pay similar, if not a bit more., even without the stopper. There was also a 25% buyer's premium tacked on, so also taking that into consideration. Will not reveal what I found here so that others can continue to play the game.

 

If you're wrong by half, that's still ~$150+...I'm in for $90!

 

Yeah, but I don't ever pay half! More like 2%

 

I'm a cheapskate, but I figure 9 inches is at least 9 ounces. I'd go $75 on it and figure on getting full scrap in a real auction later. (so I can buy bracelets like Komo's! That one on the right must be a bear to wear.)

 

Yeah...heavy enough to contort yer body just to carry it. I'm pretty bent outta shape anyway...I'd be proud to suffer th' corporal disfigurement, just to be seen with that draped over my arm!

 

takes 2 of us to move it room to room..............

 

See there? First liar don't stand a chance!

 

I found an old listing with 2 being sold as vases, had the weight listed, so I'd be in for $90.00

 

Id pay $5 max,but Im notoriously cheap.

 

Thank you to everyone who had a chance to play, it's time to reveal the answer!
The answers you gave and the rationale were fabulous, I especially liked the math calculations by @sabre123 that was cool to see.

Ultimately, I was hoping someone would put together the biggest clue which is the number on the bottom, @verybrad and @cxgirl you both found what I was hoping someone else would see.

For those that didn't see the post, here it is:

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/137668464_black-starr-and-gorham-sterling-silver-bottle

And in that listing, it states the vase with the stopper weighs 11.03 troy ounces which converts to ~343 grams. I haven't received the vase yet, but based on finding that listing I purchased it! Total price paid with shipping ended up being $30 so it was a no-brainer after finding the approximate weight.

 

Wow, that is a real deal Mr Nate, good on you
this is the listing I found, same mark as on your piece. They had them incorrectly listed as Mauser but had the weight of them. I don't know what they sold for.



https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/pair-of-american-sterling-silver-vases-1080-c-385494b9e6#

 

Thank you for sharing, I think based on your posting I should expect more like ~250 grams

 

It was a fun experiment to see if I could even get in the ballpark. Not that I'd ever use it to make a purchase

 

At $30 that was a no-brainer!

 

I was impressed with your calculation Sabre