"UGLY" Old Sterling Bowl

[larrywseale]

I recently acquired a large old sterling bowl mostly for the weight. I think it's "ugly" because the craftsmanship isn't great but as I look at it more, I'm getting curious. It's 13 3/4" in diameter, weighs 908 grams and it's obviously hand hammered. The only marking is as tiny "STERLING" & I did acid test it to at least .925.

When the owner contacted me, he told me that the bowl had been in his family since 1830 or before & I'm thinking "RIGHT" - marked sterling & made 180 years ago. I was pretty leary but after seeing it was actually sterling, it was too good to pass.

So now, I'm trying to figure a way to date it & (hope against hope) guess at where it was made & even figure out the provenance. I think it's an impossible task but the experts have come through in the past & any hints would be appreciated.

[larrywseale]

Hmmmm, just noticed my images were deleted - perhaps too large.

Resized images included

[JLDoggett]

It appears to have a cast and applied edge wich looks fairly refined and uniform. I am thinking it was origionally an under-tray or charger (a little large to be a plate) that has been "reworked" to form this bowl.

The chasing around the edge just uinside the border and the hammermatrks from bowling the metal are very crude, almost looking home-crafted, but the border looks to refined for this to have been the origional form. Also missing are the legs or foot one would expect on a bowl. Possibly this piece was taken to a local silversmith who died before completing the job?

As for the date, with the supplied information I would say it is from the 1870's at the earliest. It could have been damaged much later in its life.

[larrywseale]

Thank you. That the piece was reworked from a charger is certainly food for thought.

I agree with you on the date since it's definitely sterling & not coin. That was my thinking also.

I have absolutely no knowledge or experience in metal working but pursuing the idea that the piece was reworked from a charger or platter, how thin would the "bowl" be in relation to the edge? I know that pictures & descriptions are a poor substitute for having the piece in your hand but the edge is around 3mm thick & the "bowl" is about 25mm deep.

I don't have a large caliper to measure the edge & center & the sides/bottom are certainly thinner than the edge, I'm guess at least
1 to 1 1/2mm thick.

Sigh. So many questions & so few answers.