Crystal Punch Bowl or Large Vase

Hello! The first thing you will need to do is look it over for any marks on the base. It may tell you who made it. Usually the metal is 'pot metal' with a brass finish. You should be able to tell by the weight though. Next have a close look at the glassware portion. Look for seams, feel the edges of the marks on the glass, have a close look at how deeply they are in-sized (cut in). Glassware is either pressed glass (smooth edges often seam showing) which are much less costly than the cut glass. Cut glass is also heavier as they have to allow for the physical cutting process, so more glass is present to prevent breakage. The best way to learn the difference is to head to the store and look at examples of each. you can feel the weight difference and the 'sharpness' of similar pieces (be careful handling them though!). My impression is that you have a pressed glass piece from the 1970's area (+/-). It looks to be a decorative fruit or nut bowl typically sold through chain stores back then. While not particularly valuable, It does make a very nice display piece. I have seen these displayed with a small drinking glass (and you can use colored glasses!) placed in the center containing a small amount of water and a floating candle. The light patterns look quite nice. Hope this helps!