Antique expert advice.

[Snowbird]

Even when away with the van I cannot help looking for a bargain and there is nothing I enjoy more than rummaging in a foreign yard sale. I found what I think is a pewter plaque yesterday, its 90cm long and about 25cm tall, its heavy and obviously very old. The detail is superb, so not pressed and not moulded, so I have no idea how it was made. I have asked my German neighbour, who is ancient if he had seen anything like it or could tell me if it was typically German, but he could shed no light on the subject.
Can any funsters shed any information on how it was made, or what it is made from, even better, how old is it.

 

[David and Sally]

Why don't you think it's moulded? Any split lines where the mould would have been split?

 

[Snowbird]

Why don't you think it's moulded? Any split lines where the mould would have been split?

The detail is far to fine to be moulded. The photos do not do it justice, but even the birds feathers are recognisable and flower petals.

 

[David and Sally]

That only leaves carved then? But it does look lovely.

 

[Khizzie]

Even when away with the van I cannot help looking for a bargain and there is nothing I enjoy more than rummaging in a foreign yard sale. I found what I think is a pewter plaque yesterday, its 90cm long and about 25cm tall, its heavy and obviously very old. The detail is superb, so not pressed and not moulded, so I have no idea how it was made. I have asked my German neighbour, who is ancient if he had seen anything like it or could tell me if it was typically German, but he could shed no light on the subject.
Can any funsters shed any information on how it was made, or what it is made from, even better, how old is it.

Looks like Adam and Eve with the apple tree, or tree of life. Looking at clothing would suggest 18century at a guess, nice object though.

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[Snowbird]

That only leaves carved then?

Thats what I thought, but surely that would entail an awful lot of work. Its quite a big piece.

 

[David and Sally]

Surley Adam and Eve only wore fig leaves?

 

[Snowbird]

Looks like Adam and Eve with the apple tree, or tree of life. Looking at clothing would suggest 18century at a guess, nice object though.

I thought about 18 century. Its all depicting farming and country life in general, thats why I liked it. I have just brushed the dust out of it with a dry toothbrush as I did not want to damage the patina.

 

[Reallyretired]

Whose toothbrush ?

 

[Snowbird]

Whose toothbrush ?

Cooks, but dont tell her.

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[M-J]

Relief sculpture

 

[houdini]

Perhaps try The Pewter Society - pewtersociety.org? I imagine it could be medieval. Good find!

 

[Hollyberry]

I think it looks French, but just my opinion based on the clothing.
Interesting piece though.

 

[Snowbird]

The lady wanted 50 Euros for it and I did not have the heart to deal her down,so gave her the asking price. Now I have given it a bit of a dusting down I think I could get my money back on it if I sold it. But am more interested in finding out as much as possible about it than turning a profit.

 

[DBK]

What makes you think it is pewter? It looks like carved wood to me, probably oak. The silver finish is a bit odd but oak can turn silver when exposed to sunlight. Or it might be gilded with silver.

Can you get to the back of it?

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[Gellyneck]

What makes you think it is pewter? It looks like carved wood to me, probably oak. The silver finish is a bit odd but oak can turn silver when exposed to sunlight. Or it might be gilded with silver.

Can you get to the back of it?

And it looks like it has graining on it very similar to some of the European Oak species.

 

[Just smiffy]

What makes you think it is pewter? It looks like carved wood to me, probably oak. The silver finish is a bit odd but oak can turn silver when exposed to sunlight. Or it might be gilded with silver.

Can you get to the back of it?

And it looks like it has graining on it very similar to some of the European Oak species.

My thoughts too....
Could be a wood carving and some kind of covering/plating to make it look like silver/pewter...?

 

[mike mcglynn]

That panel looks just like some that I have seen in Dutch houses usually over the fire place .

 

[Snowbird]

What makes you think it is pewter? It looks like carved wood to me, probably oak. The silver finish is a bit odd but oak can turn silver when exposed to sunlight. Or it might be gilded with silver.

Can you get to the back of it?

Its definitely not wood, its some form of metal, the back is steel or tin, but fixed to the frame. The frame and sculpture is a one piece affair with a tin or steel backing.

 

[Snowbird]

That panel looks just like some that I have seen in Dutch houses usually over the fire place .

Ahh, yes now you come to mention it, it does look Dutch. But normally Dutch paintings have a feather in there hat.

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[Just smiffy]

It starts off looking like this...

And then they put some paint or something on it and brush it up... comes in different strengths and colours..

 

[DBK]

Its definitely not wood, its some form of metal, the back is steel or tin, but fixed to the frame. The frame and sculpture is a one piece affair with a tin or steel backing.

If you use a pin in a corner you might try scratching at it. I'm still not convinced it's metal as you can see the grain, it might be limewood rather than oak. This might explain the colour.

 

[angusboy]

French plaques could be out of furniture i think its wood as well

 

[rangi]

If it's pewter it will have a makers mark on it somewhere, it will also have a figure in a circle, telling you the actual % of tin to lead.

My opinion is that it is wood that has been silvered with mercury, and yes that treatment was used in the "old" days

 

[Snowbird]

I had a magnet on it and and its not wood, unless magnets stick to wood. I found this though. "gebruder zinn bild"

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[HandyAndy]

did a google on that wording which came up with a german ebay site showing a very similar piece, so I translated that..
"
We offer a tin relief picture of the brothers copper."

 

[angusboy]

It was plaques out of French furniture

 

[Snowbird]

did a google on that wording which came up with a german ebay site showing a very similar piece, so I translated that..
"
We offer a tin relief picture of the brothers copper."

From what I can gather the company were in business from the early 1600s making hand made and carved pieces from what we call pewter, but the Germans do not have a word for pewter, so call it tin as pewter is predominantly tin. By the way, the woodgrain is not grain, its carved into the metal.

 

[DBK]

I had a magnet on it and and its not wood, unless magnets stick to wood. I found this though. "gebruder zinn bild"

If a magnet sticks to it and assuming it's not attracted to the backing it can only be tin plated steel I think as pewter is mostly tin and virtually non-magnetic. It's also been made to look like wood with a grain effect.

 

[Snowbird]

If a magnet sticks to it and assuming it's not attracted to the backing it can only be tin plated steel I think as pewter is mostly tin and virtually non-magnetic. It's also been made to look like wood with a grain effect.
[/QUOTE
Thanks for that, have just tried again and you are right. The magnet was not sticking to the face but was attracted to the steel back. My stupidity.

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