Aluminum? Pot metal? Vase with lady on side

I found this yesterday at my local thrift along with a chinese ginger jar I posted earlier asking about it's age - I bought them when the manager told me he'd sell me both for only $20 each.
I got this one because I thought the fish coming out like 3d on the bottom round part of the vase and a pretty lady hanging off the main part of it was different & definitely cool!
Can anyone tell me about this piece? (Im guessing Asian because of the fish?)
I thought it was made of aluminum or pot metal, but a magnet won't stick to it so I'm assuming it's made of aluminum?
I did an image search but nothing exact came up - the closest was a bronze vase, but with the scuffed mark under the lip of the vase that shows silver/metal color, this can't be a bronze, right?
Any idea how old it is?
Any way to make it look better - can I paint it & if so should I use oil or acrylic to be sure it'll stick?
Any help or thoughts on what I have would be greatly appreciated!

 

cemetery vase for me

I think possibly you could find the date very easily


https://www.debutdeserie.com/annonces/vase-de-cimetiere-ancien-en-aluminium-moyen

 

Stripped the background, and not finding anything exactly like it.

 

This came up from a image search of your cleaned up photo - it's the closest to mine, but it's made of pewter - could mine be pewter?

https://images.app.goo.gl/iS3qMkw94ivsPvwX7

https://drouot.com/en/l/16254902-henri-huppe-1855-1904-attributed-to-important-pewter-vase

 

Can't get more Art Nouveau than that. Not Asian but the carp is Japanese-inspired.

Debora

 

It looks like spelter to me. I've never seen pewter degrade like that. Is it heavy?

 

European art nouveau. Would think pot metal/spelter with some kind of plating that is badly degraded and peeling at the top. The other possibility is that we are seeing paint. You might try a little lacqer thinner on the bottom to see if any paint comes off. If it is paint, I would strip it to get a better look at what you have.

 

I know spelter will deteriorate and begin to crumble (that could account for the spots and interior). I used to collect victrola and cylinder machines and it was a common issue - so many parts made from pot metal (spelter). That being said, if it is aluminum, Naval Jelly is good for removing discoloration.

 

How do I tell aluminum from pot metal (magnet doesn't stick- so aluminum?)

 

Aluminum is a whole lot lighter than pot metal.

Since tere is no iron or steel in pot metal a magnet would not stick t it.