Is spelter the same as bronze?

No. Spelter is a zinc alloy, lighter and softer, used from the mid-19th century as an inexpensive substitute for bronze. The finish is what causes the confusion. Almost every piece was bronzed, patinated or gilt so it would read as bronze across a room.

What subjects turn up most?

Figures, by a long way. Dancers and draped women, classical and historical characters, and animal studies account for around half the titles. Animals are a world of their own: deer, seagulls, cranes, retrievers, greyhounds, borzois, alsatians, elephants, antelope, tigers, panthers, lions, a westie terrier, ducks and a racing pigeon.

How old is most antique spelter?

The dated field runs from 1860 to 1930, with 125 of 156 listings carrying a clean year. It lumps heavily. The 1930s alone account for 62 listings, and a further 20 are given only as 19th Century, with six Victorian and two Edwardian. The genuine spread across the 1880s, 1890s, 1900s, 1910s and 1920s is thinner, a handful each.

Why are so many pieces described as French?

French appears in 36 titles and Art Deco in 60, and the two overlap constantly. The French Deco figure on a marble or onyx plinth is the single most recognisable form in the category, which is why the word carries through so many descriptions.

Are pairs worth more than singles?

Pairs and groups sit higher in the range than comparable singles, and pairs are a large seam of the archive, from figurines and musicians to knights and urns. The largest pairs of urns and classical figures reach the very top.

What unusual spelter pieces have appeared?

Beyond figures and urns, the functional strand throws up table lamps, table lighters, an inkstand centred with a gun dog, and a match striker. One-offs include a painted money box, a Sancho Panza table lamp and a pair of duck garden ornaments. Around sixteen pieces of spelter come to market on Sellingantiques in a year, listed by 59 different dealers.

Search 0

69,111 PAGES BROWSED TODAY PAGES TODAY • 253 ANTIQUES UPLOADED TODAYNEW ARRIVALS

Sorted by

Per page

VISITOR LOGIN JOIN AS A SELLER DEALER LOGIN

Saved

GIFTS

Spelter

253 ITEMS ADDED TODAY

Visitor Login (saved items)

Sort Order

Items Per Page

Antique Spelter

26 items · page 2 of 2

← Page 2 of 2 →

Spelter is decorative cast zinc alloy, finished to look like bronze, made into figures, animals, urns and lamps for the domestic market from the mid-19th century to the 1930s.