Vintage Moire Bag With Metal Cherub Frame And Daisy Chain -Can't Figure Metal Type/Mark?

[Coran Beck]

Hello I have a little metal frame purse with cherubs and moire body. All others I've seen like this are either sterling or 800 silver. It appears to be marked STEEL but I used an EXTREMELY heavy duty magnet and it doesn't stick to it (in some spots it holds slightly) so it causes me to believe it is likely steel with silver plate, non? Thanks for your help!

 

[Midge]

Giving this a *bump* for you.

 

[Marzilli_Vintage]

Are you certain the mark isn't "STERL?" That's a pretty comm0n mark for sterling silver, and the way this has tarnished makes me think that's what it might be. It should be tested. Your magnet may be picking up steel around the clasp or hinges or somewhere that steel was used to strengthen the frame at stress points under the silver (if that's what it is). There may even be an entire steel frame of sorts under the silver. The answer is to test this.