Truly, authentic vintage 1920's, or earlier. A prelude to the ice buckets and planters seen in contemporary decor shops, like "Coming Soon", this piece is entirely silver-plated. Featuring perfectly round spheres on either side and a slight taper, along with *stunning* patina. The patina has to be the most interesting I've ever seen, so I left the trippy pattern that it created in-tact. This was made by in Germany by Gebr Hepp (Gebrder in German means brothers, Gebr is an abbreviation), in the early 1900's.
This is an incredible conversation piece, truly a slice of history!
Early customers of the HEPP company include Waldorf Astoria Hotel; One of the brothers who founded the company invented a silver-plating method in 1863, AKA "Hotel Silver" the same extremely durable process used to produce this piece, before 1931, when the company changed hands during the great depression, and the original factory was destroyed in air raids during WWII. Still making incredibly well-made and designed objects to this day, HEPP remains an award-winning company, producing in Germany.
Makers Mark: On front, the company emblem is embossed. On bottom, the silver-plate mark is also embossed, along with the company and region of origin.
Condition: See above comment about patina!
*Measurements*
Height - 8.25"
Diameter of Vessel - 7"
Total Diameter - 10", each sphere handle is 1.5" diameter
Weight - 3lb 1.7oz
Everything from My Home on Mars has been professionally cleaned and restored, and ships with a care sheet specific to the material and time period of each piece. Most things require no special maintenance, but a simple list of "do's and don'ts" ensures your item maintains its condition for years to come.
In addition to being a vintage dealer, I am a USPAP-compliant personal property appraiser. Part of that job, separate from this one, is determining the value and authenticity of every piece I examine. I'm proud to bring that high standard of ethics, expertise, and research skills to My Home on Mars, allowing peace of mind for all my customers.
