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Subject:Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Patrick Norton Mon, Nov 29, 2010 IP: 99.114.163.119

Stone carvings in old heavy blue fabric silk padded box that are blue in color, carving marks look like old tool marks. The box is 12.5 x 7.25 and 4 inches deep. Ivory pegs. Took the stones to the jewelry store, but everyone there was a minimum wage employee and had no clue. Quite an elaborate box for carvings. Any clue what these translucent blue stones are?







Subject:Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Stan Mon, Nov 29, 2010

Hard to tell from the pix. Could be glass. Padded boxes are associated with modern wares.

Cheers,
Stan

Subject:Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Ernest Wilhelm Mon, Nov 29, 2010

Difficult to tell, the closest I can come is Quartz,and with the age.. you cannot judge by the box.
Ernest

Subject:Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Patrick Norton Wed, Dec 01, 2010

Thank you, Ernest. Had the rock shop in town test the hardness with one of those digital rock testers, cost $1.00 to help with needle replacements. Higher then quartz, but not high enough for sapphire, about an 8.2 and sapphire being above 9 and quartz about 7. Knowone in my area has an SG tester large enough to test gravity on these stones. Not sure what they are, agate, quartz, poor quality sapphire? Real pretty little 3.5 inch half pound stone carvings; nice wood box too. Thanks again



Subject:Re: Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Ernest Wilhelm Wed, Dec 01, 2010

Please let us know what the SG test says !!!
Ernest

Subject:Re: Re: Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Trish Wilson Fri, Dec 03, 2010

Patrick, the mineral used is most likely to be fluorite. The carving was produced in China, where the navy blue padded box is widely used for commercial carvings.

Trish.

Subject:Re: Re: Re: Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Ernest Wilhelm Fri, Dec 03, 2010

fluorite has a hardness of 4, quartz app. 7,.... and the test says 8...I don't think so! Most likely it is quartz. The last picture shows that it is new.
Ernest

Subject:Re: Re: Re: Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Patrick Norton Sat, Dec 04, 2010

Was told I could do my own SG by weight in air and weight in water? Not sure how to Calculate those weights. Each foo dog weight in air is a half pound each, in tap water a quarter pound each. Little 3.5 inch carvings. Most likely some kind of quartz or blue agate; full of inclusions and trapped elongated water bubbles. Just never seen a blue translucent stone carving before.





Subject:Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Trish Wilson Sat, Dec 04, 2010

Ernest, I have to agree with you. Assuming that the hardness test was correct, it is much closer to quartz, and certainly modern work.

Trish.

Subject:Re: Re: Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Patrick Norton Sat, Dec 04, 2010

Trish, Blue John fluorite during the 19Th century was mined for its ornamental value, real good guess. Told I could get a better photo outside and that artificial light makes things look so dull.



Subject:Re: Re: Re: Re: Blue crystal stone carving?
Posted By: Trish Wilson Tue, Dec 07, 2010

Patrick, the colour is attractive. Some years ago my husband and I had a business buying and selling semi-precious stone carvings from China. It was most enjoyable to admire the various stones and the workmanship, and, although we are no longer in business we still enjoy the few pieces we kept as a collection. We did get the odd few fluorite carvings and love the stone.

Fluorite is a variable stone as far as colour is concerned. Ernest is quite correct in stating that the hardness should be around 4. If you think that you would like to check it yourself, simply use the point of a knife to make a small scratch under the foot or any place where it will not be visible. You do not have to use excessive pressure, just enough to scratch it. This will tell you decisively whether or not your rock shop made a mistake with the hardness test.

Trish.


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