A 2 piece metalic object of unknown origin and purpose.
A single lower piece consisting of a dish and base:
The side of the dish curve upwards and slightly outwards. The dish section is comprised of ornate shapes that resemble flowers or Macintosh style lines, made of holes through which light casts complex, tree or vine like shadows on the surface beneath. The base is solid metal (no holes) and features a a stylised screw or pin in the centre, yet strangely this seems to serve no purpose: It does not fix the dish to the base as these are a single piece of metal, nor does it secure the lower piece to the 'flute' piece rising from the centre of the dish. The circumference of the dish is approximately 15cm.
A single upper piece 'flute':
This secures to the centre of the dish by screwing in from above. It does not attach to the pin/screw on the underside of the dish/base. The flute splits into several chutes, curving outwards towards the top, with a 2cm gap at between chutes at the top. It would be large enough to hold a single flower. There are some very small and almost illegible markings on two sides of the flute. On one side is an 'R' followed by a small 'w' or 'm' above a dash or line, followed by the number '5' or '6', followed by an '8' or '9', then 2039.
Stone Pottery marked "Stone China, Anthony Shaw, Burslem" on underside. Also contains a coat of arms (two horses with an oval between them demonstrating a family mark). Has a shiny finish.
Pair of busts of young children - one male, one female - wearing grapes around their head. Either made of or painted to resemble white terracotta after Clodion (Jean-Paul Paris France). Incredible detail in the intaglio eyes, dimpled cheeks, every strand of hair etc. Origin - were possibly sold in a museum shop in conjunction with an exhibition by the real Clodion.
Picked this wood carving of a chinese man up in a thrift store. It is all hand done with no artist name or anything. He seems to be a messenger because he is holding something that looks like a note. He is dressed in very high class clothes from 1850-1890, and from the look of his hat, he seems to be a part of the government. There is a symbol on his clothes that i have definitely seen before, but do not remember.
