Mine was made in Danzig in 1890. Cleaning rod is missing, I haven't checked the bore diameter (to see if it was a South American gun, many of which had Czech bbls installed).

All the metal on it save the butt plate has been chromed. The bbl, bbl bands, magazine, action, bolt... all of it. Nice bright shiny chrome.

The bore actually looks quite decent and the chamber was dirty suggesting that someone had shot it with some type of ammo. It also reaked of gun oil.

What is it/was it? Apparently in Ecuador they used to use nickel or chrome (sources seem to vary online) GEW88s as ceremonial rifles. But this is definitely chrome and not nickel.

Did the VFW used to use these in parades or something, though if so, why a GEW 88? German pride day parades in Frankenmuth? Boer war souvenier?

There's no import markings.

I don't know, should I try to shoot it, make it into a lamp or?

It has not been converted to use Mauser style strippers, looks like it would still need an enbloc clip to load it. I have no idea where to get one.

Seems to function, though I don't know if the firing pin was clipped was for ceremonial use and would need replaced. That dirty chamber suggests otherwise.