on the very bottom of the marble base it appears to have been chiseled out in the center and there is a nut affixed to a long thin piece of metal which holds and screws all seven pieces together. Inside the urn portion on the 'lid'...it looks like it is 'painted' gold and has letters that look like the old times new roman font stamped into the metal. It is not in a straight line and the spacing is not equal. It appears to be ' L E R I A '
I wish I knew something about this piece in order to help find the value but I really don't. It was built around the 1850's as far as we have been told. The panels on the bottom part are made out of wood, not the usual tin.
I am not sure if the signature on the painting is for the above mentioned artist or if the above mentioned artist was the painter of this portrait. The signature was difficult to decifer. I am interested in knowing what the value of this painting may be and perhaps who the person is in the painting.
