Printing Plate?

I found this wood panel and inset into the panel was a 14"x17"x 1/2" thick lead piece. I was told it may have been a be a printing plate but I'm not familiar enough with the process to say for certain. Any help would be great. (One side appears to be painted to resemble brass)

 

Just to clarify what we see...

• Are the two images front and back of a single item?
• The maximum metal portions' are 14"x17"x.5"?
• What are the overall dimensions wood?
• The semicircles are against a frame, what are those inner dimensions of the frame?
• If you place the edge of a sheet of paper or cardboard on opposite semicircles, is the metal higher, lower, or the same as the semicircles? Same question if you use the top surface of the frame.

James.

 

I'm having a hard time finding a printing, embossing, foil stamping plate that resembles this. Time for some sleep.

 

A rectangular piece of lead that size would weigh 48 lbs (21.8 kg). Granted the rectangle is missing some sections. Is it that heavy?

 

Being decorated on both sides, I can't see it being a printing plate. Trying to imagine a context in which both sides could be accessible, but the colored side the primary view. Are you sure the color is painted and not plated?

 

Just a guess, for pressing into leather to make decorative book cover?

 

Confusing....the wood in the second image looks a bit different than the wood in the first image.............? Half wood circles missing in first image aren't in the second, and one has been 'splintered' off.........? Are we talking TWO separate pieces??

 

That's sounds really possible. It could have had a piece of leather on both sides to do two at once and then put through rollers. I think if it was for printing it would have had impressions only on one side. Not sure if lead would stand up to this, may be a different material?

 

Though the wood does not have indications of this being heated, I also thought about it being used in branding the design on leather, like the pictured book by Houseful. Also to me, the engravings do not seem deep enough for a sharp transfer. It's puzzling.

 

Could it be zinc plated?

 

@Christopher, come back, come back wherever you are, and tell us more please!!!!

 

Sorry, I just checked back.
I believe the metal piece was married to the wood to make something decorative out of it. Think early upcycling.
It is one piece, the photos are of both sides.
Because of the way it's flaking off I do believe the gold color is paint.
As far as weight goes it has the same weight as a similarly sized piece of steel and is non- magnetic.
I dont believe that it was used to imprent on leather because the edges are not sharp enough, in my opinion, to do the job.
It is so confusing.

 

Christopher, can you see if there used to be hinges attached to it? Like holes or indentations on the sides?

 

It could be two pieces mounted back to back. There appears to be a pin in each corner, and midway down the long side, and piercings at the corners do not seem to go clean through, but show underlying wood.

 

None that I can see

 

I

I am beginning to wonder if it could be zinc plated but would a coating of zinc add that much extra weight?

 

nope

 

Here is a sterotype printing plate from the mid 19th century, the tatami tan colour on the backside is similar to some of the more modern printing plates colours I saw when browsing. However I am not sure that is what it is. Maybe it was used for wall paper.