Glass Message Board
Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: BobKegeles on August 28, 2013, 11:50:16 AM
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This might be an easy one for the Europeans.
I have a fuzzy memory that when I bought this about 8 years ago, it was shipped from someone in Great Britain, that doesn't mean it's European though.
To the touch, it has the hardness, the weight, and the coldness of glass.
It's not soft enough, nor light enough to be a plaster cast. Definitely not plastic, and just doesn't "feel" like metal.
It's high gloss black, except for the relief face which is matte black.
Oddly though, on the forehead, there is a place where there are three tiny white dots, that look like the black scraped off.
So here are the questions . . .
What is it?
What country?
What material?
Mass produced? or Artist produced?
Worth anything?
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could it be a coal carving? I've seen some very detailed carving done in very hard coal that can be polished very nicely.
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Is coal not fairly lightweight? I'm fairly sure it floats on water.
But you've got me wondering about some of the Canadian carvings you see in some sort of slate-type material. :)
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there are all different types of coal, some anthracite can be very heavy and dense.
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It could be a coal one. I have a carving from coal, titled The Last Shift - 4 miners standing back to back on the platform, and it is very very heavy. No way would it float Sue, the miners would all drown. ;)
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I thought it might be polished black obsidian but I wonder why the white specks. Could it be some form of hardstone that has had a coating put on it with a highly polished and matt finish?
m
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Glass or obsidian - but a very nice ram's head!
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Is coal not fairly lightweight? I'm fairly sure it floats on water.
But you've got me wondering about some of the Canadian carvings you see in some sort of slate-type material. :)
Do you mean like *THIS STUFF here?? (http://www.northwestnativearts.net/argillite.htm)
IF it is they are like $$, just click on those items to see prices.....
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I think the white flecks are reflections of the towelling background used, m.
Apologies for trying to drown your miners, Anne!
I don't see carvings of that sort of quality or on that sort of theme, Rose, but I do think you've cracked the stuff they're made of 8) - I do see somewhat more inferior carvings of seals or otters around.
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Could it be Jet?
A lot of 'carved' coal is simply compressed powdered coal in a mould.
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Or resin...
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How big is it?
Whitby Jet is very black, here is an example: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rw1T5QulnmA/Tndg0LNz7rI/AAAAAAAABdE/7eWZDCYUF0c/s1600/vulcanite+bracelete+vintage+copywriting.JPG
John
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................or Could it be GUTTA PERCHA ? Or is that the same thing as JET?
I have a carved Gutta Percha Victorian Brooch here with a C-clasp on it. I had it appraised.
Here is an Example of the Carving of my brooch that was from my Granny:
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There is a type of Coal called Parrot Coal (goodness knows why, I thought they used Canaries in the mines) it's very dense and carves really finely. I have a small boot which is made out of the stuff. I have see quite large pieces including a small pedestal table carved from it. Do a search for Parrot Coal in Google images to see some examples.
The comparison of the weight of coal and the item was mentioned, but I don't see any mention I the original post about weight or size of the item, perhaps these could be supplied...
Good luck with your quest.
Mike
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... Parrot Coal (goodness knows why ...
See http://scottishmining.co.uk/3.html for a reason for the naming. Also, a general search shows another option that says 'parrot coal' is another name for anthracite.