Topic: ID Help - Unknown Sulphide - Ysart?? ID = Not Ysart, probably European

[rsts]

Thanks to all who helped on the ID of my unknown Crown/Swirl.

This is another unknown that came along with the collection the Crown/Swirl was in.  It is a sulphide on a mottled cranberry translucent ground with three separate sulphides in it.

http://www.rstreasures.com/misc/PY_Sulphide_1a.jpg

Size of the weight:  3 1/16" dia x 2" high.
http://www.rstreasures.com/misc/PY_Sulphide_2a.jpg

Bottom is unfinished and shows where the pontil was broken off.
http://www.rstreasures.com/misc/PY_Sulphide_3a.jpg

Close up photos of the three sulphides show a head with tall hat or headress, a cherub or angel, and two birds with babies in a nest.
http://www.rstreasures.com/misc/PY_Sulphide_4a.jpg
http://www.rstreasures.com/misc/PY_Sulphide_5a.jpg
http://www.rstreasures.com/misc/PY_Sulphide_6a.jpg

Any and all help or comments willbe appreciated.

[Frank]

My inclination is not PY as the finish is not typical but Kevin may have a more considered opinion. Paul made many of his sulphides from costume jewellery so it is always interesting to also find the item he used.

[KevinH]

My opinion is that this is definitely not Ysart work (by any of the family). The type of ceramic is different and the quality of the mouding and setting is, well, quite basic.

I think it's probably European, mid-to-late 19th century.

With the three sulphides in one weight, it could be an interesting item from the viewpoint of sulphide collectors.

[rsts]

Thanks Kev.  I always figure it is better to know what it is not and then go on from there.    After reading your comments I thought of the makers of sulphide marbles from Germany.  They often used rather crude sulphides.  On page 59 of the book 'Marble Mania' by Stan Block there is a marble pictured that closely resembles the birds on the nest.  Will keep checking on other possibilities.

[KevinH]

I thought of the makers of sulphide marbles from Germany. They often used rather crude sulphides.

Absolutely right.    

I have never really looked into the marbles side of things, but of the ones I have seen (a very few in real life and some in books), the sulphide and the working was very much like those in the weight.

And yes, the Stanley Block books should provide good clues. Perhaps the website http://www.blocksite.com/ could be of help?

Another reference showing a selection of sulphide weights (as opposed to marbles) is Peter Von Brackel's Paperweights, Historicism, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, 1842 to Present. [ I really must type up that title in Word and just copy and paste to messages :!: ] Attributions are given as (probably) Silesia / Bohemia, Thuringia, Germany, Belgium, Bohemia / Czechoslovakia and a few other choices, too.

(I had thought that for general searches on the web, I really should look for "sulfide" instead of "sulphide" as I assumed most of the hits would be in US-based pages. But for eBay listings, using eBay.com, "sulfide marble" recently gave 6 hits while "sulphide marble" produced 41. That shows how much I know about that subject )