Sterling Branch and Flowers on Bronze Vase

I bought this at an estate sale today. It looked pretty old (art Nouveau?) and seemed like a good deal. It appears that the patent date is 1912? Measures about 11" high. The way the model # is hand stamped on the bottom looks like craftsmanship from an older period. Is anyone familiar with this type of work and do you think it is that old. Most of the stuff at the sale was probably 20-30 years old and the people did not seem to be collectors. I assume that you wouldn't clean or polish something like this? Thanks for any help, this type of thing is not really my area of collecting.

 

Art Metal Studios of Chicago

 

I'd polish the sterling and make the design pop !!

 

I have a small vase by the same company. They were made with a coating that kept the silver from tarnishing. I contacted someone who deals in these and he testily told me the finish was stripped so it has virtually no value now.

This is the info I got from this board at the time:
It is Heintz. Letters stand for Heintz art metal shop

Heintz Art Metal Shop, Buffalo, NY 1906-1930

Otto Heintz acquired the Arts & Crafts Co. in 1903, and changed the name to Heintz Art Metal Shop in 1906 and later became Heintz Bros. Mfg. Well known for handwrought copper and bronze wares with sterling overlay in the Arts & Crafts style.
http://www.heintzcollector.com/

This is the one I have:

 

I would leave the silver alone, but it's totally up to the owner.

It's lovely!

 

You are absolutely right, Marie! Mea Culpa.

 

Thanks, that’s great info. I think the silver has been polished before, seems like some residual polish at the edges. The bronze finish looks to be undisturbed, which is good. I’m just happy to have found an actual antique!

 

And something out of your usual field of expertise.

 

That is a NICE vase; the design is Asian-influenced, from the era when Art Nouveau pieces borrowed freely from same. You could try rubbing a thumb over the silver and see what happens. If the coating is already gone, some of the tarnish will come off on your thumb. If it does you can take a polishing cloth to the silver. If not I'd leave bad enough alone.

 

what coating.....I don't understand.....
it says sterling......so why not buff off the tarnish?

 

The anti-tarnish coating mentioned in Marie's post above^

 

Not true. While a pristine piece would be preferred, Heintz holds good value unless totally stripped. I see nothing wrong with selectively polishing the silver, taking care not to touch the bronze. The OP's piece looks pretty good as-is so could go either way with this one.