Bowl

Plated?

 

All I see is an insurance number. People put those on the darndest things, so it needs testing.

 

I think it is a repair number,though the repair doesn't look to good and no idea how that damage could have occurred.

 

I agree with Holly that that is a repair number.
Is this a hole or is the silver flaking from the metal?


It sure looks too nice for silver plate. Other than the one spot, I don't see any evidence of pitting.
The design is older.
Is it heavy or light for it's size?

 

Heavy for its size. Looks to me like something hand crafted rather than being mass produced. But I could be wrong. The overall appearance of the surface and the color makes me think solid silver but having no marks I am in doubt.
The picture with the flaw, not sure what it is. Not flaking, does not look like there was something that needed repairing.
Never performed tests on silver before and no acids at home.

 

Photos do not tell the hole picture,the "flaw"area looks like a break and solder flow where it does not belong.There is no complete photo of the underside of the base and it looks like bad overheating of solder from the 2 o'clock position to the 5 o'clock position.

 

If it is heavy, it more than likely is plated.

It looks like an older design. As in maybe mid to late 1800s. If a repair was made, the piece might have been re-silvered, obliterating any marks that it may have had.

 

Does that "cut" go all the way through?? As rough as it looks.....it sure 'looks' like silver through and through......wonder if someone had put it on a buffing wheel and the wheel 'grabbed' it and sent it flying....doing the resulting damage???

 

I guess I'll have to test it to be sure.