I know this is an Art Nouveau from around 1910. Questions are what is it made of? Do I clean or polish it?
Hello Shannen. Your pictures need to be larger to see the details that will determine whether this is an old one or a recent one. How do you "know" this is a casket from 1910? Are there marks? We have to be able to see them to help you.
Hard to tell from the photos, but it looks like it might be something like the one in this link https://www.ebay.com/itm/264778260596?hash=item3da603a074:g:BIYAAOSwVRRe-ByS If so, in my experience if the gold finish is worn, you can't polish it back. Gentle cleaning so as not to lose any more of the finish. Search jennings jewelry box to see more of the same sort, in various stages of finish condition.
I did find two similar caskets however marked differently. The one seems more modern to my unknowing eye and marked similar to the OPs. The other, marked JB, I'm thinking may be Jennings. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1012817011/heart-shaped-trinket-box?gpla=1&gao=1& https://www.ebay.com/itm/313835149305?hash=item49120857f9:g:E-4AAOSwasVhQlK7&nma=true&si=R1vIjwrlETIwq9zxIyeIptTZpS4%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
I think 20th century but later. Certainly not Art Nouveau, but some kind of rococo revival, as it is shaped pretty much like a bombe commode. I would think it will polish well.
