Featured Repousse Sterling Vessel with Massive Perhaps Amber Central Portion

3 7/8" rim dia, 2 1/4" hgt, 2 1/8" foot dia, 201 grams. It appears that the 'amber' is a continuous piece, underlaying the inner cup & extending into the foot. I don't know of a non-destructive test for amber, and so cannot really ID the material showing around the cup, and in the base window. It may be a poured resin; the dark inclusions suggest that. The repousse work seems to be particularly well done; very detailed, with 3 rows of fine 'beading'; I don't recognize any of the 4 vignetted figures.
A guess for origin would be SE Asia, or maybe India; I don't think Persian, but..
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Your wisdom and comments are sought...with gratitude for lookin'!

 

A Tibetan butter tea cup. What looks like amber is probably something else. These are usually wood.
Whit, do you have a UV flashlight?

 

Do you mean that the 'amber' is usually wooden...or that the cups are entirely wooden?

 

The 'amber' is usually wood. The cup is wood, with silver mounts inside and around the base to protect the wood. And because it looks so good.
I wonder if yours has a thick layer of varnish or lacquer.

I don't have much time to get into it now, but the repoussé has a lot of Buddhist symbolism.

 

Thanks, AJ...found a few on th' bay, all wooden.
No evidence of any finish on mine...the resin (if that's what it is) has depth 'an perspective.

 

nice bowl !

 

...isn't touched by acetone, which was suggested as a test for amber. Next will be a discrete hot-pin stab, hoping the resultant aroma will offer a clue.

 

before u do that , ask here about the hot pin method....

 

Yep...it turns to a blue-green gray, not quite opaque. The inclusions become more pronounced, probably just by contrast...their color doesn't change. I should have included that revelation in my OP.

 

I'm askin'...my plan go in at the edge of the bottom window, lightly, but you've got my attention komo.

 

the hot pin may react with unknown material in a very unfriendly way , causing harm to the item or yourself.

I don't speak of everyone here....but given time others will echo these thoughts....as has happened many times when folks here bring up the hot pin method//

 

Understood, an' thanks.
My nose still works, and I'll be judicious in my pinning & whiffing.

 

I've not screwed up the courage to mar even slightly the material under question...nor do I expect to. It is enough for me to know what it's correctly called...it may go on eBay, eventually. Thanks, all!

 

Hot pin is bad, acetone is bad, anything is bad that will damage the material you are trying to test

 

It's very nice -- I didn't see this when you posted back in August. I wouldn't want to test it, either!