Ancient Celtic bronze bowl?

[NWpickin]

Hey guys any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I've tried for hours online but can't find anything....

Bowl appears to be very old and has a nice patina.....Has detailed Celtic rope design around the edge and has a hallmark which I'm unable to identify (Triangle with 3 point star and O C above).... See picture

Weighs 1lb. 6oz.
Measures: 2.5" tall and 6 3/4" wide

Looks a little rough is some places but overall good shape.

Any ideas on age/maker?

If anyone has a subscription to one of those hallmark lookup sites and can look it up for me that would be awesome.

Thanks

 

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[HenryWaltonJonesJr]

I agree it looks very old and I also agree it looks like the inside was used as an ashtray, but that doesn't mean it was designed to be an ashtray!

I couldn't find anything on the mark, but it looks to be mason related given the pyramid. Tried a search of Celtic Mason Ceremonial Bowl, but came up empty.

 

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[unclemac]

perhaps "vintage" would be a more apt term in this case.

 

[ARC]

IF I had one guess... and one guess only...

um ... ummmmm ............
itssssss......... issssss .................
..........ahhhh.................................aaaa....................
...............
....

Offerings bowl.

Real or not.
And either way real or not... tis almost certainly bronze.

 

[BosnMate]

Sometime in it's vintage past it's been used as an ashtray, the inside has exactly the same patina as my folks back in the 40's from cigarettes being snuffed out in it. Shucks, if I had it and smoked, that's what I'd be doing with it. Hope it turns out to be something better though.

 

[Doubter in MD]

The inside blackening is too uniform for an ashtray in my opinion. I wonder if it is an insert cup for a thurible.

 

[Doubter in MD]

Here is a Celtic symbol of the Holy Trinity. The hallmark on the bowl is much cruder but i think Back-Of-The-Boat was onto something when he suggested this.

 

[HenryWaltonJonesJr]

I just can't tell if the bottom specifically looks so crude because of age or because it was designed to look old. You may really have something there I'd get it checked out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NWpickin]

Here is a Celtic symbol of the Holy Trinity. The hallmark on the bowl is much cruder but i think Back-Of-The-Boat was onto something when he suggested this. View attachment 1093916

Yeah I agree you and w/ Back-Of-The-Boat... Seems like the it's a split decision....I just submitted it to Christies in New York for an appraisal but it will take up to 8 weeks for a response.

Does anyone have any suggestions where/who I can contact to have this evaluated?

I live in the Seattle area.

Thanks everyone for the input.

 

[unclemac]

the people at the Burke take great pride in identifying items...or steering you in the right direction, I have used them many times.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture

 

[FreeBirdTim]

Yeah I thought that at first... But there's no rest for the butts... If it turns out to be an ash tray I'll still keep it.

Many cigar ashtrays don't have grooves to rest the cigar on it.

 

[Doubter in MD]

This is a little closer to the hallmark.

 

[testing123]

Something about it makes me think something like Pier 1 Imports, or a similar store selling an "antiqued" brass bowl.

 

[FreeBirdTim]

I hope it's real, but I see a lot of fake antiques at Saver's and other resale stores. I was almost fooled by an "antique" pontil bottle a few weeks back. It was a very good fake, but I eventually spotted the word "China" embossed on it in very tiny letters. I never thought the Chinese would bother faking an old bottle, but I guess they'll fake anything for a buck.

 

[gunsil]

The Ancients ? who are "they"? where they a tribe heh ... Medieval is ancient... 300 years ago was ancient... and yes "hallmarks" and "marks" have been used since makers been making.
The thing is... It may be just a copy .. BUT that style, the design, material color ETC is exact... as far as mark... that will POSSIBLY be the key to unlocking the riddle here.
And still in my opinion warrants further investigation... should not be dismissed.

When you have handled and seen as much "ancient" stuff as I have over the years you tend to get "the eye" for it... BUT... still can be good copy.

I don't know what "ancient" stuff you've handled, and I doubt it was over 300 years old, but having seen a lot of items made from bronze, silver, and gold from the days when the Celts ruled Britain, not one piece has shown any hallmarks. You need to get to Europe and look at the really old things in the museums there from early civilizations before you make such uninformed statements. Or even get yourself up to the Metropolitan Museum in NYC and study things from ancient (over 1,000 year old) civilizations and you will see a lot of art and metalwork from early civilizations and see that hallmarks were not really in use by most if any early peoples. The item in question here exhibits a design common in the Celtic times, but these designs have been used over and over through the years and are still very available today, especially if you travel to Ireland or any of the British Isles. You need to get out of Fl., and get a more worldly education. Also, if the owner were to clean a small section off you will see that the bowl is made of modern yellow brass, not bronze. Again, studying known bronze artifacts in museums will improve your ability to discern the difference between such metals.

 

[NWpickin]

Here are a few more photos... I tried to capture as much detail possible w/ my crappy iPhone camera......

 

[HenryWaltonJonesJr]

That base gives me some doubts, is it two pieces? The pitting is imitated well if its modern!

 

[FreeBirdTim]

What's in the center of the triangle? Almost looks like a clock with hands.

 

[NWpickin]

That base gives me some doubts, is it two pieces? The pitting is imitated well if its modern!

I don't think it's 2 pieces... Appears to be one... I thought about cleaning a small section but decided against it... Don't want to destroy it and ruin it's value if in fact it is authentic.

 

[ARC]

Gunsil... you would not know bronze if it hit you in the head...
you have some nerve..I mean where do you get off ?
you do not know me ... and you sure as hell don't know this item...
And just so ya DO KNOW SOEMTHING...

I have been to europe five times... Lived from here to Saudi Arabia... been through EVERY major and MOST minor/medium castles and museums throughout Europe AND the states...INCLUDING
THE MET TWICE and the Smithsoninion TWICE... not to mention every other major museum and even off the wall one from Madam Tusads To Van Goghs(AM)
In the states I have been through EVERY AMERICAN herritage museum from Philly to Boston... Even in the Bahamas and jamaica...
I hav spent more hours to hanging out in a museum than you have spent looking in one.
AND SO YOU ALSO KNOW...
1 tenth of the items in my private collection are OVER 300 years old...
been to New York EVERY TIME I LEFT THE COUNTRY .... All 6 times...I went through New York. Wanna Museum... GO TO THE SMITHSONIAN.. you need the education.
No one said this bowl was 1000 years old...
I have bought and sold items like these for almost 30 years...
I am an advanced wreck diver groomed to work for Mel Fisher by age 13 and have handled more ANCIENT crap that YOU HAVE ONLY SEEN THROUGH GLASS.
So get a life and look at my avatar ... take a look... what do you think those 400 year old gold bars and chain are .... HANDLED ... yep.

You can tell you don't pay attention to details or you would have noticed that pic... JUST like you did not pay attention to the details of this find...
SO ... Step off !

sheesh ... I was getting dragged through museums since age 2... by my mother who lived worldwide... and spoke 6 languages.
Who was also a teacher/guidance who also headed up original ALSG. = Foreign Exchange.

If you count the times to Caribbean and such... 7 times

 

[Silver Searcher]

Nice modern brass bowl, not Celtic or ancient or Bronze....good find for a thrift store though.

SS