I wish I could add more ... the grand and great grandparents of my wife had old money. Passed down to her Dad were some of the coolest things ever. 1800's furniture I remember, glassware and china, I remember a fish bowl with polar bears carved from ivory somehow attached around the top of the bowl and they had their paws dipping into the water. A solid bronze tiger, a very large picture thing of copper that radiated from the center out with a dozen elephants also from copper attached to that background - it was incredible. I remember maybe a half dozen whale oil lamps that were so cool. There was a fire .... 9 years ago I guess? It literally destroyed almost everything.
This survived because it was in my possession - and I can't even remember why I was holding on to it. Very little remains to pass down .... he was the only son of an only son and died 3 years ago Christmas day. He was one son and that son has no sons as of yet.
Anyway ... its authentic. I also have ... I think 3 Indian rugs that are very very old and exceptionally good condition that were his wedding gift to me because I had commented on them once about how awesome they were. He also gave me a belt made from elephant hide ..... I was going through things yesterday and this piece, I do not know exactly what it is and thought I'd post here
