Mixed Metal Piece, Sterling and Bronze

A friend is selling things for a friend and asked me about this piece. I don't know what it is but I love it!

The flowers are sterling, the rest is bronze. I did a Google image search on the mark but came up with nothing. Does anyone recognize the mark?

The marks say:
3638
A, mark in diamond (AMS overprinted with an H) flower shape
Sterling
On Bronze
Pat. Aug. 27.12

4" high, 4-1/2" wide at the middle.

I did a search for "mixed metal silver bronze" and got a lot of Japanese pieces, but nothing that looked like this.

Thank you for any help you can give

 

Could be Art Metal Studios of Chicago.

 

It is Heintz. Letters stand for Heintz art metal shop

 

Beautiful...love it.

 

Right you are Brad!

 

http://www.sterlingflatwarefashions.com/Silversmiths/SSH6.html

 

Thank you so much Brad and Bakers! I am sending the information to my friend and now I just need to negotiate a price, because I want it big time

 

I hope you get it, Marie. It's gorgeous!

 

Well done Brad and others! Gorgeous piece. Hope you get it Marie!

 

Bronze and Silver!! I love that too!!!! Good luck with it Marie!!!!!

 

I love it. Good luck!

 

Let us know! Good luck!

 

I'll keep you posted

 

One question, I know polishing the silver is OK, but what about cleaning the bronze. There are some dull areas, drips, splotches and greenish areas. Most of the green is on the inside which I would think would be best to leave alone, but there is one area on the back on the outside just below the rim.

Is this one of those things it is best to leave alone?

 

OK, I have been reading further and it is not recommended to clean the piece or shine the silver. The following is from this web site's FAQs:
http://www.heintzcollector.com/

Q: The patina will return over time, right?
A: SOMETHING will happen with the passage of time, but it will bear no resemblance to the original factory finish. . The Heintz patinas, like those of other Arts & Crafts period metalworks, were factory-applied finishes produced with chemicals and heat.
Q: How DO you clean the silver?
A: You don’t!! I quote from the little booklet included with each new purchase: “Each piece of Heintz ware is lacquered with the highest grade lacquer obtainable, and will not tarnish. To keep this ware clean, merely wipe with dry soft cloth.”

Well, the silver has tarnished, so now what?

I am emailing the site to see if they have an thoughts for me.

 

I will let you know what he says.

 

Did you actually get the piece Marie, or are you still thinking about getting it?

 

LOVE IT !! ... Joy.

 

I would polish the silver with a cotton swab, being careful not to polish the bronze. I would leave the rest alone.

 

Hi all, the seller is away for a week, but I am sure when she gets back I can convince her it needs to be mine

This is the answer I got back from that web site:
The tarnish, dull areas, drips, splotches, and greenish areas all are a result of repeated "polishing" with "who knows what", thus removing the protective lacquer finish applied at the factory. What you choose to do now is your call! You can make it look shiny or leave it alone.