What is this??? Or at least what was it used for?

[Sass2050]

I bought this plate at a salvage yard for $10. It was laying out in the rain and I LOVED it. I'm not sure what its made of, iron maybe, because it's VERY HEAVY...and as you can see, it rusts. The front has a roman soldier holding a lady and some other people and the back has a ring attached like it was hung on something. I'm wondering if it had something to do with a fireplace...but I don't know. The word NADRAC (with an accent over the A) is stamped on the back, but that's the only markings I can find. If anyone has any information about this or where I might search, I'd appreciate the info. I would like to know how old it is and the value. Thank you for your help.


It's 17" across. It weighs 9 lbs and it's not brass, because a magnet sticks to it. I think the back has been painted silver at sometime. The ring is embedded in the back so it will not pull out.

 

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[Teeenbean]

Sure thats Rust might beTarnish back looks silver.

 

[Mackaydon]

Guessing the initial use was for something (a lid, perhaps) then the hook loop added so that the plate could be displayed.

 

[BuckleBoy]

Sure thats Rust might beTarnish back looks silver.

It ain't silver if a magnet sticks to it--which was said above in the original post.


I think it was a wall hanging.


-Buck

 

[Montana Jim]

Obviously a wall hanging / decoration.

Era - I dunno.

No clue what NADRÁC means...

 

[trikikiwi]

I would guess NADRAC is the foundry that manufactured the plate.
I can't find anything on it.

Mike

 

[CRUSADER]

Welcome from the UK.

Usually these decorative plates were brass or copper-alloy (however yours seems to be a cheap mix of various metals). Popular in France which this might be or its Eastern European. 1930s

 

[Sass2050]

Thank you all for your help. I'm not going to sell it, because I LOVE it right where it is. Just wanted to know about it's history.
Thanks again. Beth

 

[PBK]

I believe that the last letter may be a "G" rather than a "C," indicating that this item is from Nadrag, Romania (or Hungary).

That would also explain the diacritical mark above the "A."

There is, at any rate, a history of metalworking in Nadrag, as indicated in an article titled, "The Pattern of Industralization in Romania" by David Turnock (Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Vol. 60, No. 3 [Sep., 1970], pp. 540-559):

"Calan and Vlahita manufactured cast iron, and Nadrag concentrated on finishing."

 

[searcher]

Maybe a flue hole cover...? I have seen some kinda like this in old houses etc.

Fancy cast iron saucer sled...? ha

H.H. Searcher

 

[CRUSADER]

I believe that the last letter may be a "G" rather than a "C," indicating that this item is from Nadrag, Romania (or Hungary).

That would also explain the diacritical mark above the "A."

Makes sence, I thought the cheaper metal might indicate a Eastern country.

 

[mrjosh]

It reminds me of a flu hole cover also. When I was little my parents had a old shed behind the house that had one simular to that hanging for that purpose.

 

[KTMRIDER]

I think this is called a "charger" or "charger plate". It is a wall hanging.