Sure, go ahead. IÂm not sure if that will tell me anything, though. As for what would make the niello fall outÂwellÂ.I have not seen any damaged niello. The museum pieces I saw (under glass) while doing my research were intact. No one let me handle anything, LOL. The student samples I did handle were new. Thermal shock can make enamel fall out. Though enamel is fired, uneven heat (like pouring hot tea into a champleve cup made for display, not use) can expand the cells and make the enamel crack. Maybe not the first time, but itÂs a bad idea. So thermal shock could make niello fall out too, though it would be less likely because expansion of metals is not the same as glass. Your cup does not look like anyone would try drinking hot liquids in it, though. And itÂs still brass, making it less likely that it is niello at all. Niello being so labor intensive, niello-look imitations have been made for centuries. ItÂs more likely a resin. If modern, possibly a synthetic resin. (The synthetic resins would be urethanes or epoxies. I see a lot of fake enamel jewelry that is not fired glass enamel, but epoxy resin. I used to enamel a lot so itÂs not hard to tell apart. I donÂt think that applies to your piece, though.) ItÂs more likely an organic resin. Pitch could have been used. Pitch when fresh would be nice and black. It can be intermixed with a powder or granules to give it body while filling up the wells. I think I do see lighter colored granules in your pictures. You would not see that in niello. Niello is an alloy made from several METALS so is consistent. Alloys are not the same as mixtures, the metals bind to each other chemically and create in essence a new metal. It would not be grainy any more than brass or steel (also alloys) are grainy. I use pitch myself (not for niello-look or for decoration, just to support metalwork being or repouseed). I have bought large silver beads made in Thailand that are filled with pitch to support the paper-thin silver while it is worked and give it weight. ItÂs not done to deceive, but is a very traditional and useful metal working technique, still used today. But give it time and exposure to moisture and pitch is going to degrade. Pitch can fall out in chunks or turn to powder. If the cup was cleaned with something harsh when someone tried to polish up the brass part, that too could make pitch degrade.

When I took the photo of the chop, I lightened the photo, so the chop would show up better. When I look at the bottom the white is actually kind of greenish and I think it is oxidation or patina that has settled into the crevices. I wiped it with damp cloth, but it doesn't come off and I don't want to rub on it or scratch in the crevices. The middle of the chop is actually worn somewhat from it being placed on various surfaces. When I just look at the style, it looks like a more 20th century style piece, say 1920 or 1930, but whoever made it was definitely an expert at bronze. Perhaps it is made in the lost wax method. I don't know. I did find a Asian art site I posted photos on. Members look at art from all centuries and give advice, perhaps I will get some info from them. When I was looking on a chinese character site it said that the characters might give some information as to the name of the piece, where it was made, and the artist, which might help determine more about it. I just got another post from someone who has referred me to several auction houses on the East Coast who deal in Oriental art, I will email them and see what I found out. This person is thinking it is Art Nouveau style made about 1900 - but are curious why an Art Nouveau piece would have a Chinese chop. They will probably have someone who can read the chop at the auction houses and decipher when, who, where, value of the piece. more later...

hi Tina, yes, I'm familiar with regular milk paint; I used it for a number of projects a few years back. Love the stuff! Love that matte chalky tactile finish, too. If one can apply this Sloan chalk paint on top of other finishes, sounds like it's different from milk paint in that it has some kind of latex or acrylic additives. I know they market an acrylic binder that can be added to regular ole milk paint to achieve the same kind of coverage. But that must make it a bit more like a regular paint, and I have to say I'm rather fond of the unique way milk paint can be thinned as desired for that slightly see-through washed wood effect. Great tip on the ammonia as remover, cyn47, thanks! We tried just about everything to get 100-year-old milk paint off our kitchen woodwork in former house; can't recall if we tried ammonia. We finally resorted to a commercial preparation that I thought was more pricey than it was worth. At least we have established a definitive connection between felines and chalk/milk paint. As my contribution towards minimizing general grumpiness, here's a shot of my kitty on one of my old milk-paint projects. Well, at least his ears:

" Perhaps a clear coat of something matte to arrest the rust and stop the flaking while maintaining the very vintage look." That's only true after rust has been totaly removed. On farthur consideration I'm thinking flat rust colored paint might be a better choice depending on appearance after rust has been removed. Clear will preserve and protect but color of metal might be unattractive following removal of rust. It's for that reason it might be wise to have both on hand then return unused product. You will of course achieve better result turning it over to a restoration expert as suggested by someone above but I naturally assumed you want to diy. I reccomended a diy friendly approace that yields pretty impressive results. There are indeed better methods but they require special training and expensive equipment. Perhaps you should reiterate your desire to do this yourself. It seams some just don't grasp the self satisfaction derived doing these things themselves instaed of buying/hireing everthing. I am the first to reccomend turning it over to pros if the chore might explode,make toxins,kill or maim the unsuspecting. Oh well,I'm sure most people recconize some free advice is worth exactly what they paid for it. LOL. Best of luck,you do have an interesting item in the boxes. Your sewing friends will be green with envy.