Topic: Neodymium bowl, but why the dots?

[Ekimp]

I got this plain neodymium bowl a while ago to see what neodymium was all about (I was thinking it might be Caithness). It was about to go back to the charity shop but I wondered if anyone knows what the dots were for?

They’re not random and don’t look like accidental damage but look like some thought has gone into their placement. They look like they may have been formed by a light tap with a centre punch type tool. Any ideas?

The dots extend over 70mm of the outside circumference. The bowl is 175mm diameter, 96mm tall, weighs 1.1kg with a ground rim. The base has very little wear and no pontil scar. Thanks.

[glassobsessed]

I have a theory about 'localised areas of damage' like this - your dots look like bruises - an impact mark that has not resulted in a chip.

Quite frequently over the years I have found small areas of either scratches or bruises on items that I have bought and suspect they are caused when the item is being transported without being protected. Imagine it jiggling around in a box in the back of a car and repeatedly banging into something that is causing the damage.

John

[Pinkspoons]

In this case, it could also have been a mishap during the grinding/polishing stages of its manufacture. Fast-rotating parts and glass can be unhappy bedfellows even in experienced hands - a small slip might easily produce a series of semi-regular impact marks across a surface.

[Ekimp]

Thanks both. I thought it was interesting in that the gap between the dots increases then decreases very uniformly which looks more by design than by accident and there is no scratching between impacts.