When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
6-1/2" Tall Antique NormanStallionDraft HorseSpelterAnsonia Clock Garniture
Very Good Used Horse Figurine.Patina Scratch Mid-Back (Photos 4&5) and Missing Bell (Photo 3)
6-1/2" Tall 9" Long 3-1/2" Wide
USPS Ground Advantage Package
Spelter: "Spelter is a zinc-based alloy, typically consisting of zinc combined with lead, antimony, and sometimes tin, that serves as an inexpensive and easily cast material for decorative and functional objects.[1][2] Originating in China and East India, spelter was imported to Europe by the 16th century and gained widespread use from the 1860s onward as a substitute for more expensive metals like bronze, particularly during periods of copper shortages such as World War I.[3][4]
In the realm of art and antiques, spelter became prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for producing sculptures, figurines, candlesticks, clocks, vases, and lamps, often in Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles.[5][1] Its lower melting point and malleability allowed for intricate designs, though it is lighter, more brittle, and prone to corrosion compared to bronze, frequently requiring patination or electroplating to mimic the appearance of higher-value metals.[3][1] Notable artists such as Auguste Moreau and Louis Hottot employed spelter for figural works, contributing to its collectibility today despite its historically lower status
Spelter primarily consists of zinc as its base metal, typically comprising 98% to 99.5% by weight, with the remainder being various impurities derived from the ore and refining processes.[11] In common commercial forms, such as the Prime Western grade, lead content ranges from 0.5% to 1.4%, while zinc exceeds 98.5%; traces of iron are limited to up to 0.02%, cadmium to approximately 0.03% to 0.07%, and aluminum to minor levels below 0.01%.[11] Other occasional impurities include arsenic, antimony, copper, tin, and aluminum, generally at levels below 0.01% each.[11]". Grokipedia
