How was this box made?

[zilverik]

Hi,

This little box is not filigrain. Yet it looks like it. How could they have made it? It is very well done. Only two marks (French controlmarks?). No makersmark. Made in a French colony? When?

Regards,

Zilverik

[JLDoggett]

It looks American made, but no maker's mark is most odd. The technique looks to be chassed and then pierced. though it could have been cast and pierced. To be certain look with a loupe at the inside edges of the piercings. Another oddity is that there are no marks on the inside to raise up the dots.

[zilverik]

Hi,

Thank you for your response.
Probably first cast and then pierced. How come you think it is American? How old do you think it is?

Regards,

Zilverik

[zilverik]

Hi,

Cast and then pierced or cast and then a little saw?

Regards,

Zilverik

[ashep]

Judging by the burrs on the inside of the piercings I would suggest it's been die-stamped - you don't get burrs like that from a piercing saw, and the ends of the cuts don't look fine enough to have been done with a saw. Perhaps it was done in the flat and then spun.
Regards, ashep. Orlrite, Trev?

[JLDoggett]

I saw that on the picture of the underside/inside of the box, it actually looks like it was chisle cut. That bur is not typical for a die-stamped piece, too irregular and crude.

[zilverik]

Hi,

Yes, I can imagine that it looks like irregular and crude. However, the box measures in total long 5,5 cm (2,2 inches), wide 4,5 cm (2,7 inch) high 2,5 cm (1,1 inch). So, actually it is very fine, only the photo is maybe to close. Obviously handwork.

Regards,

Zilverik

[silverhammer]

I would agree with JLDoggett. Cast then chiseled. A piercing bur would look very different.

[silverhammer]

I forgot to mention that this is definitely not an American piece. Without seeing the marks under a 10x loupe, my guess would be that it's French.