Thanks for all the ideas. I don't think it is a snuffer, but that gave me an idea. Could it be a decoration to put on top of a candle when it isn't burning? It does look like a flame, no there isn't any soot residue on the inside. It would fit on a finger, but you wouldn;t have a lot of control over it. I'm glad I'm not the only one stumped by this one... more research later this morning. Thanks again everyone Alexa

We are an Interior Design Firm, and have just been advised by our cabinet hardware dealer to NEVER use ammonia based products on polished nickel. Some plumbing manufacturer's bond a clear sealer to polished nickel (and other metal finishes) to protect it. Ammonia will cause tarnishing, whether it is sealed or not. Alcohol is not advised either. There is a LOT of incorrect information on line. I even saw a recommendation to use a brush to clean polished nickel. Always check your product's care and cleaning recommendations. This is from Rohl, a luxury plumbing fixture company: https://houseofrohl.com/rohl/support/care-and-cleaning/ Here's another hack: never use ammonia based products to clean your mirrors. The ammonia will begin to eat away at the "silver" mirror finish on the back of the glass and your mirror will begin to appear as though it's deteriorating around the edges. Which, it is. Hope this information is helpful!

I just reached out to Cascade this morning. It’s been several years since I last researched this… and thought maybe they have made some changes or improvements. They said “Cascade Complete” is an excellent choice as it is phosphate free with no lemon or citrus added. In Canada (where I am from) it’s available at Walmart and Canadian Tire.

I have been a metalsmith since 1988. It's not a "job", I don't work for someone else. I have an MFA in Jewelry and Metals, earned in 2006. As part of my training we studied forging, welding, casting and fabrication from sheet metal: in copper, brass, bronze, nickel, and silver. Including blacksmithing in iron. NO PIECE was considered complete until a proper PATINA was created. It is an important part of the finishing process, whether through application of chemicals from a bottle, liver of sulphur, fuming with ammonia, etc. Though it it IS an important part of the work, it is still an APPLIED patina. Here is the definitive book on the subject, which I and every other metals student studied : https://www.amazon.com/Colouring-Bronzing-Patination-Metals/dp/0823007626 Oxidation is nothing more than a chemical reaction between the molecules in the metal and compounds in the air (as in your outdoor bronze example) or compounds applied, such as the sulphur released by a liver of sulphur solution. A microscopic layer forms which is technically an alloy of the metal and the chemical, such as silver sulphide. You APPLY a patina chemical. OXIDATION is the result. Calling it "artificial" ...well: it's ALL artificial. I don't know of a single sculptor or jeweler today who lets their pieces color naturally in the air. It is because you cannot control the result that way. Go to an art fair like the Des Moines Art Festival (not a craft fair with "yard art") and talk to some modern day bronze sculptors. Ask them if they let their pieces color naturally. From ancient times through the Renaissance to the present day: sculptors have colored their metals. I have seen old recipes calling for burying the piece in sawdust with urine added; akin to the ammonia fuming of today. A raw bronze is not a pretty thing. There is no contrast, no richness of the surface. No Renaissance sculptor would have thought of exhibiting one. Unless coated with lacquer, all patinas are "living" surfaces. They will continue to react and the color change with time: sometimes looking better with age, sometimes not; with the original metal gradually being eroded/penetrated by the alloy. Hence many outdoor bronzes in Italy (where acid rain and air pollition in general is a problem), have been removed indoors to controlled conditions, and copies placed outdoors. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horses_of_Saint_Mark