Brass Candlesticks dating question

[kidden6968]

Here I am again  LOL  I also picked up a nice pair of brass candlesticks yesterday for $2

They are just over 10" tall, base is 3" by 3" and they weigh one pound each.

My question is that the base is stamped "Taiwan" - would the fact that it doesn't say "made in" make this more of a vintage piece rather than something made yesterday?

I have done some research and have read varying information on the "made in" requirement date in the US for imports.

As always - appreciate any information.

[bigwull]

At $2 you can,t go wrong..they look nice, and their scrap value is probably more than what you paid for them...

[kidden6968]

Thanks bigwull - yes I know they are worth more for scrap  LOL  I am mostly curious about the dating - my understanding is that after a certain year imports were required to say "made in. . . " but I have been getting varying information from different sites.  I am trying to figure out if they could have been made in 2011 or maybe 1950.   

[bigwull]

If you look at the underside of the base...what type of screw is holding the stick to the base..and the degree of pattination on the metal does,nt look to be 60 years old...but having said that...candlesticks especially brass ones were usually polished every other week..by their owners...so i think we can safely say it was made between 1950 and 2012....

[kidden6968]

Good point bigwull - never thought about trying to unscrew - actually there is no screw.  The base of the candlstick is actually threaded and the stick screws right down onto the base.

[kidden6968]

Camera is charging at the moment but will gladly take pictures of the 2 pieces as soon as I can.

[sapphire]

...candlesticks especially brass ones were usually polished every other week..by their owners...

Took me until I got done with the giggles to realize you typed 'were' polished, not 'are'. Because in my case, those brass candlesticks are hidden away so I don't have to.

Once a year, before Christmas. That's it, that's all..........back to the chest you go.

[mart]

the required "made in" was never strictly enforced !  i would guess these are 1960 or 70ish !

[kidden6968]

Thanks Mart!!

[kidden6968]

I wanted to take a picture of the base detached.  Please keep in mind that I have not polished these.  This candlestick in particular shows a circular mark which almost feels like the brass was scored there.

In any case - not the purpose of what I wanted to post  LOL   The base is threaded so that the stick screws directly down on the base with no screws.  Seems sturdy and well made.  Probably has nothing to do with age which is fine but I wanted to post in the event anyone had anything to add   

[bigwull]

I,m very surprised,that they have split here...If i had been a betting man,i,d have said that the split would have been at the base,...i,m now of the opinion that these,when first bought were,nt cheapies....ok,they are brass but i think they would have been at the upper end of the market,..this bottom part now makes me think it has been cast,..interesting!!

[kidden6968]

Hmmm ok thanks bigwull - I learn every day here that's for sure.  I will wait and see if anyone else has something to say   

[kidden6968]

OOps ok another question then - cast as opposed to?  can you explain to me why one has more value than the other - this is how I learn - ask ask ask  LOL

[bigwull]

having looked more closely at these pics...i,m now of the opinion that these a low grade bronze..they are definately not yellow brass...too coppery...which make,s me think of bronze....they have that look,..as for the base...unless the bottom part of the stick has been braised on....if it has,nt then it could only have been cast in a mould,then turned....

[kidden6968]

Hahaha ok now I have even more questions.

Bigwull thanks for all the help.  I wanted to say that when I take pics I edit everyone of them as the lighting never looks right.  So I try to enhance color, crop and resize everyone.  I am not sure that has anything to do with how you might come to the conclusion that it might be bronze rather than brass but wanted to throw that out there.  So here are my new questions:

Too coppery and maybe bronze?  Is there a way for me to tell for sure?  I know there is some green on the inside of the top of the candlestick as well as around the bottom of the stick where it screws onto the base.

The bottom base appears to be all one piece.  How else were these made if not cast in a mold?

I ask because should I decide to sell, I want to be accurate in what I post and with items I don't know much about, I am always looking for help with descriptors which are so import.