Japanese metal box

hi folks

found this today in our local antiques shop, paid £5 for it as i was hoping it would clean up nice

unfortunately silver polish doesn't do anything to it

im presuming it was silver plated once, as i see little copper accents on the top

so perhaps the plating on it is just to far gone

wondering what it was used for ?, meiji period ?

think its one of the those pieces that would look better stripped down to a polished base metal

weighs about a tonne

any thoughts or info appreciated

 

It looks the sort of things that held ciggies or cigars, or some such. The plate may be gone.

 

Japanese antimony box, once the plating has gone they don't polish up. A variety of platings were used, generally non precious, popular in the inter-war period, so Taisho generally.

 

Interesting thanks ce b.

It's never a great look when you have this partial plating effect

Even if it was all even black it would look better

 

The plating is very easily rubbed off so collectors expect this and it will sell as is if that is what you want. Examples with no or little wear are scarce so fetch a premium.

 

You may already know, the flowers are chrysanthemums.