Hello Fred,
I take your point regarding the spider legs. They do seem vulnerable.
The pea pod is not cast, but neither is it flimsy. it is a metal that I'm unsure of with a bilious green patina. It was hammered, stamped, or pressed into two shapes that were then joined. The little spider body looks cast - or maybe it was filed into shape. The legs are wire.
I've loved it since my friend gave it to me following her trip to Japan - fully knowing that I am a truly morbid arachnophobe.
I'm with you regarding signatures and branding of any kind. It is the object itself that speaks or doesn't.
Thank you for your eyes and expertise.