The Siracusa Silver Bowl is an exquisite antique piece from 18th century Italy. Crafted from silver with a gold wash, this bowl features a beautiful shell pattern and a unique shell design. It weighs 311 grams, or 10 ozt. It has a hallmark on the side that places its origins in the late 18th century of Italy from the town of Siracusa. Using acid testing, the silver content is somewhere between 800 and 900 silver. I tested it against a control of 800, 900, Sterling, and silver plated. Using both the silver nitric acid and 18k nitric acid, this led to results closest to 800 and 900. The gold wash is still mostly present on the exterior but has faded from the interior. During research, it was speculated that this may have been a communal church ciborium which would explain why the inside has lost its gold wash (wine being acidic over time and heavy use). This was also acquired on Long Island where a substantial Italian population emigrated around the time after this would have been made/purchased. This piece is meticulously handcrafted. It measures just under 7.5 inches wide (approximately 7 7/16ths), 7.125 inches tall, and 311 grams. Shipped with care via usps Ac