Featured It's time again for Let's Play a Game!!

You can absolutely be disobedient, can you tell us more of what you mean? I can tell you that when I analyzed this item, I was definitely looking at tarnish, there’s one part of the tarnish that I found particularly interesting that I believe gives clues about the method of production.

 

But the tarnish on the handle does!

 

The tarnish on the handle is what I was looking at. It has that uniform color and deep black.

 

The tarnish on the handle and the existence of a paper label were two reasons I originally went with 4. Neither looked right for silver. Where I am, the paper labels have always been used on modern plated items. That said, I saw seam lines where no seams ought to be on a plated ewer. Horizontal ones. The base didn't have that rolled under edge like most brass or white metal pieces do either.

 

Looking at the tarnish, I thought the piece looks like it would be fairly easy to polish, unlike plate which is usually difficult and frequently has dark spots after you think it's clean. Then I saw how the lip of the pitcher and the foot turn under as I've seen in inexpensive sterling pieces. It's like a large piece of sterling silver was pressed thin and then shaped into a pitcher. Maybe in a form? I dunno. I'm not all that well versed (as you are) in spotting the clues, but it just doesn't look plated to me. I will admit that I didn't really look closely at the handle.

 

The rainbow colored tarnish and paper sticker make me skeptical.
But the handle looks different, as others have already stated.

 

Thank you for all of your insights. I think perhaps we turn part 2 into a discussion on the positive and negative clues of the piece. I was going to have a part 2 of the game where I gave you the following scenario:

Assume you think there is a very high probability this item is going to be sterling silver, the buyer has it listed for the price of a fast food meal...you aren't local so you need to get the buyer to ship it to you. They inform you that there's a local buyer interested and they prefer to avoid the hassle of shipping it at the price they are offering, so with all that, how much would you risk to try to make it yours? Would you raise your offer, would you just move on, how would you respond?

But instead, I think I would like to ask this question instead: look at the photos again; do you see the faint line at the neck of the pitcher, and again about half way down the pitcher? What if anything might these lines suggest?

 

tells me it was made by hand in separate pieces and soldered together....

do I win a cookie ?

 

You win best answer!!!! And that was the clue that was most important to me when deciding how much to risk on this piece. I guess my best theory for those lines is that the solder is a different purity of silver. When the piece is fully polished, you can't see the solder joints, but when the pitcher gets tarnished, the solder lines start to stand out because the different purity's react differently over time. And I have seen that production technique and the lines and the style with silver from Mexico. So here's what was under the sticker once I received it, total weight is 1,214 grams:

 

Geez, I didn't even notice them, but Evelyb30 did

excellent information for something else to look for, thanks Mr Nate

now what is that stunning piece next to the pitcher?

lol komokwa

 

That's a piece I purchased about three years ago, I placed this pitcher next to it for size comparison (the other piece is a monster). Here's the original post:

https://www.antiquers.com/threads/probably-my-best-items-of-all-time-post-4-of-4.48200/#post-1814761

Also interesting (now that I'm looking at the old post) you can also see horizontal solder marks on the larger piece too!

 

good game Nate !!

 

& as usual............you come out the winner !!!!!!

 

I saw the seam irregularities but didn't really know what they meant. I could recognize this as handmade due to irregularities seen particularly in the bottom photo. Gut reaction that this was Mexican sterling. You mentioned that this was for sale at a pittance so figured, even if plated, it would be worth the gamble.

 

poor bloke selling it....never lifted the sticker...!

now that's what's called Sticker Shock !!!!

 

Please post again with a photo when you have it polished. I'd love to see it in its glory!

 

BTW, I would have snatched up that vase regardless of the silver content or being plated. It is just gorgeous and it sings to me. You do have a will Mr Nate? Put me in it for that vase please? I promise I'm worthy.

 

Sweet! I didn't notice the lines either, but I will now. I thought it worth a chance since you said it was cheap and because of the uneven and slightly warm color tarnish - one of the first lessons at Mr. Nate's College of Silver Knowledge

 

It was the tarnish that made me think as well. That pitcher is lovely,but that vase is GORGEOUS !

 

I'm curious about the question you started to post copied, below.

"Assume you think there is a very high probability this item is going to be sterling silver, the buyer has it listed for the price of a fast food meal...you aren't local so you need to get the buyer to ship it to you. They inform you that there's a local buyer interested and they prefer to avoid the hassle of shipping it at the price they are offering, so with all that, how much would you risk to try to make it yours? Would you raise your offer, would you just move on, how would you respond?"

If the other party interested hadn't made an apt to come by, I guess I'd offer more money, but I'd be careful how I'd offer it. I might make it sound like the extra money was on top of the shipping charge, for the seller's trouble as not to alert about the silver. Mr. Nate, I have no idea how you get people to mail these things! It's impressive.