Let's play a game!

For me, it was the bottom left of the second image that sold it for me. From my inexperience, it seems like the lip would look more perfect than this piece if it was plated. Mechanical perfection, if you will. Now, that was purely a guess on my part.

Also, the tarnish in the hard to reach spots looks authentic, for some reason (unless that is just shadows).

 

The silver stems tipped me off. I doubt silver wire can be so nicely added to silver plate.

 

I would buy it and give it to the Richards-DAR House Museum to use for table goodies when we have tours.

 

There are no wires, the stems are part of the design - would have been hammered into the pattern die, then the finishing would have been done by hand...

~Cheryl

 

Ok, I can see that better in the lighter photo now, thanks, Cheryl

 

It's a nice piece, with the stems well-defined, can see where it might look like wire - but you saw the quality...

~Cheryl