Iron Crown

[SellingCoolThings]

So I just found this at the thrift store, I have no idea what it is besides that it looks like a crown. If anyone knows what it was used for I’d be super grateful. I bought it because I thought it looked cool and I know oxblood red is a pretty popular color in vintage interior design

Would this be considered cast iron? Or would it not because its not all one piece? I really dont know much about antiques but the screws make me thing it’s not super old.

I have no idea what to even price this at. I know I want to price high with best offer but no idea where to even start. Also any help with keywords when listing would be appreciated. I cant find much about this piece

• This topic was modified 6 years, 1 month ago by SellingCoolThings.

[SellingCoolThings]

Here are the screws:

[Antique Frog]

Nice piece! Cast iron is (I think) just iron that’s poured into a mould, rather than beaten out, as wrought iron is. So it’s cast iron whether it’s in one piece or several.

Must admit, from the shape I’m not sure that it is cast iron- the curved pieces will be a bit fragile as cast iron has no bending strength.

As you say, the screws aren’t old. If this was a UK piece I’d think it was off the top of a downpipe or a sewer vent pipe, i.e. to stop birds nesting on top.

[MDC Galleries & Fine Art]

Cast iron will be melted / liquified and poured into a mold or extruded through a series of rollers to form it. If a two piece mold, there will be a seam line some where. Smaller pieces can be poured into smaller cavities just like a cup cake pan. Pour the liquid in several rows of cavities and let it cool and you have several dozen smaller pieces all from one “smelting” pour.

Any type of “casting” is made from molds were usually made just like metal sculptures are made. First a bees wax carving is made, then a plaster or concrete cast is made of the shape, figure or decorative piece. Then molten liquid metals after extreme heating are poured into the molds and cooled.

Also ornamental pieces can be made by stamping “soften” metal slabs between a male and female die mounted on a two part [above and below] hydraulic press and the thinner slabs of very hot-softened are guided or rolled between the upper and lower die parts and the press slams together and “stamps” or “Molds” the design into the metal and the cutting edges of the dies also cuts the part out at the same time like a cookie cutter. The rough edge or burr as it is called can be ground off later after all parts are cooled or left with a rough edge.

Cast iron and steel and stainless steel are magnetic. We keep several magnets at our work stations and I always carry one along with my 10x power jewelers loupe [magnifier] when we go sourcing.

Brass, copper are not magnetic, or at least only very slightly so if mixed with a metal that is.

Sterling Silver is not but electro-plated will be because it is coated over other metals that may be.

In this case, this part is made up of several smaller parts that were molded separately then drilled and assembled into the one piece as a final product. It seems to be a cap or top of something. It looks like a finial that would go over a fence post as a decorative topper. Research metal finial post tops, etc.

But it could be anything, who knows.

Hope this helps.

Mike at MDC Galleries and Fine Art.

• This reply was modified 6 years, 1 month ago by MDC Galleries & Fine Art.

[aperture]

I agree with Mike, it looks like a finial for a fancy garden fence post. Here is similar (cheaper version) on Alibaba https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/cast-iron-decoration-metal-crown_60047333975.html

[Author]

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