Antique Silver - Can you identify? (Redux)

5 years ago

I just now read a thread started by Sweeby 10 years ago...and I need similar assistance with identifying a mysterious piece of antique silver. But in this case, I do NOT know what it really is and need some thoughts. This is an misc piece from the collection of my parents, who were married in 1947. Could this be an engagement or wedding accessory? On the bottom are markings for "Wallace" and "88", but they did not have a collection of other Wallace silver (mostly Reed/Barton). As a note: I placed a small orange tape over my Dad's etching of his i.d. for theft-recovery purposes, so I suppose that means he considered it valuable enough to mark, but I'm not sure of it's value.

It is 3.5" diameter x 3" tall. It has a formed square on the top-center, yet a round opening in the bottom center, (which is unthreaded) and numerous openings around the body. The design includes fish images amid acanthus (?) leaves. My only wild guess is some kind of flower/stem holder for a bowl/vase. Any ideas or info would be very much appreciated! Many thanks...

Featured Answer

lindac92

5 years ago

I don't know what it is for sure....but you can be pretty sure it was never intended to be submerged in water to hold flowers. You don't use a silver plated thing to submerge in a bowl for flower stems, perhaps it was intended to hold fake flowers? Can you date the piece from the mark?
The square hole in the top seems made for something special....and it looks like it fit on top of something. And as for determining what something is for by what someone selling something on ebay says....well they are guessing as are we.
it's a definite "what'sis" ;-)

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Comments (10)

maifleur03
5 years ago
If it was to hold flowers there would have been a glass bowl or vase inside that could be lifted out for filling and cleaning which would require it to be taken apart. That is not to say that there might not have been what I have seen called a bud vase that slid into the top.

I think your piece was probably a silver plated decorative piece rather than having a specific purpose.

I would like to thank you for starting a new topic. Often people do not look at the old comments.
dma51055 thanked maifleur03
Fori
5 years ago
Could it have rested on top of a glass vessel full of water? Then you could thread some stems through.

No idea, but it's pretty cute!
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Fori
5 years ago
To add, it looks like this, but yours is nicer and I have no idea how it would be used unless it's for dry flowers arrangements.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-WALLACE-Silver-plate-Floral-Frog-Flower-Arranger-Centerpiece/283871886069?hash=item4218153af5:g:D0oAAOSwzAZetY-g
dma51055 thanked Fori
dma51055
Original Author
5 years ago
Wow...that's great! the bottom looks exactly the same, so I think it is a floral frog. Thanks for the sleuthing!
dma51055
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm sure this is submerged in water in a deep bowl, with flowers embedded into the holes for support.
Fori
5 years ago
That would explain the fish or lotus theme!

You do realize that you already suggested that it might be a flower thing and otherwise I would not have thought of it being a flower thing. :P (I actually thought you had called it a frog so I did a quick google for "Wallace frog".)
lindac92
5 years ago
A quick search indicates to me there is a piece missing below. That it fits on top of a glass "thing" and is indeed used for flowers......but the intricacy of the design has me puzzled....as when used that would be hidden.
Sammy
5 years ago
Well done, @Fori! I started my search very broadly and, as usual, ended up going down the rabbit hole that is the Internet. I did find some very beautiful things down there, though.
dma51055 thanked Sammy
Fori
5 years ago
Ebay isn't the only internet site calling these frogs though. That guy just had better pictures. :)

I suspect there may be a missing glass piece.

Sammy, the internet is a dangerous place to be! I hope you don't have your credit card number memorized! :P