info required on this statuette

[antiquepete]

Can anyone give me any info. on this little statuette.

There is French writing around the barometer - which may not

be original - there may have been a clock face there.

[cogar]

Is that cast metal (iron) with a bronze figureine?

[antiquepete]

Sorry it took so long to get back - I am new at this site & had a few problems finding how to reply.

But we are here now - so - Yes I beleive it is cast metal - possibly bronze.

[mart]

Can you get a closeup of the words??

[antiquepete]

The item is at my brothers house - I shall go there at the weekend & take
a heap more photos including close up of the wording on the barometer & post here -
watch this space. Thanks for the replies so far.

[antiquepete]

Just found that if you double click on the picture itself - it opens up as a full screen image
then you can see quite clearly the face of the barometer.
Just spoke with my bro, who tells me there are three dots on the figurine & three dots on
the arch - as if to line up each piece.
The metal is not bronze - he cant think of the name of it just yet, but will find out for the weekend.
So again - watch this space.
Thanks

[mart]

Many items including clock mounts are made of slag or pot metal/white metal then finished to appear different !! Was quite common on figural clocks, barometers ect !!

[KC]

Very interesting piece...it has asian and modern elements to the frame itself.  THe wording is in French but appears newer than framing (which appears "aged".)

This is one of those that I would recommend a hands on by someone knowledgeable. 

The late 1800's French barometers were very popular and still are...but this one just doesn't fit somehow.......The slag metal was used often, and unusally the items were more ornate in design.

[mart]

Translation on the words,, Rain Storm or Wind "tempete pluie du vent" Variable temps, very dry "tres-sec" !!

[antiquepete]

Thanks for answers so far - as I mentioned in an earlier post I now have some more info.
The metal is PSELTER - the figurine is attached to the main frame by a screw underneath,
there is a metal plate on the "back" held by two small screws.
Hope this helps.
Thanks

[mart]

Spelter is the same as pot metal or slag, some call it white metal because it normally has a high tin content !!

[antiquepete]

Thanks Mart -I didnt kow Pselter is the same as pig iron - I am learning as we go.

[mart]

Well the terms are used interchangably even though there is a difference in the blend of metals its kind of like splitting hairs !! Spelter is a combination of lead and zinc mostly, others can contain almost anything with a high degree of tin !! But the terms are used for most things that are like your barometer frame,, any blend of inexpensive metals that are not iron, gold, bronze ect !! So if something is made out of any of those terms you know what it is not,,not necessarily what it is !! Which could be anything !!

[regularjoe2]

It's always a quick method , via using a magnet , to check for ferrous metals , which spelter is not , antiquepete .