Featured 19thC Gold & Tortoiseshell Bracelet

It's wild learning about some British or Japanese-made pieces from someone in China. (LOL) I wouldn't have known what the bracelet was either, except that it was made of direct-to-hoard-ium. We can't sell t-shell if we know what it is.

I've never seen faceted carnelian either; usually it's cabochon here. The red agate is unknown too. We get Czech glass make-do substitute here and happy to find it. (which doesn't mean I won't keep my eyes peeled!)

 

Even though this antique piece has had a rough life with some breaks I can't say no to a Medusa. Previous owner didn't know anything about it, as is typical... She looks off-center because there would have been sneks to the right that have been lost. From the back you can see the 3 metal posts they used to attach decorations to backgrounds.


Without the typical spots I bet it's even harder for people to recognize it, but the growth lines are viewable with the naked eye and spectacular under UV.



Here is the first bit I acquired; an antique pendant and earrings set. It was possibly originally on a tort chain.

You can see the carve out in back to let light in, and the metal posts on the pendant. They also exist in the earrings.




The other I have has an inset shell cameo. Previous owner thought it plastic. I've since found many similar, including those correctly labeled in museum or dealer collections.

 

Whoa. NICE!

 

Both the open work frame & carving are too pretty! I like how the darker piece of carving is set on blonde background.

Do you also believe those patterns are growth lines? I’m not sure actually, but I have seen similar patterns when polishing cowrie shell, so thought that

 

I have bought a ‘Georgian’ tea caddy from a Chinese seller, assuming he didn’t know what he was selling, later turned out a reproduction but this bracelet is a real deal for sure

 

Thank you!

The scutes are made if keratin and grow like nails or horns so should have patterning. Next time I'm around a full hawksbill shell (which has weirdly happened twice in the last few months...) I'll have to get a closer look. It's also possible it is made or altered by the heat and pressing process that is used when they're made into objects.

 

Mirana! Your Medusa is beautiful, the pieces you show after her are top notch!!!
VERY INTERESTING to see, thank you.

Absolutely! Tshell (as horn!) is considered as an early plastic, just non chemical but because of its properties when heated and pressed. Old processes even included using leftovers and dust being transformed in paste to be molded!
The scales of the shell had to be treated like that to be assembled to get thick enough material for decoration or carving.

 

I wonder if horn has different pattern of growth. I checked few horn objects at home and found none, but they are seriously outnumbered by T-shell objects so no enough samples

 

Next time I'm around a full hawksbill shell (which has weirdly happened twice in the last few months...

I live with one.... rescued from a Victoria BC auction many moons ago...
Taxidermy ..... & at only 19 inches long.... it was just a kid !
.

 

I wonder how much it would be worth to some artist...?

Not that it's going anywhere.......

 

I've had this box for..... over 40 years........ the top is hawksbill..... the rest confounds me ... I'll start a new thread for it....

( I may have shown this before...... but for many years....)

 

I don’t think that can be sold around uncaught so just keep it forever!

I also wonder if it’s possible to date taxidermy without provenance, so it can be traded as pre-CITES

 

Hummmmm...


looks like from the same hand.....


Hummmmmer.... this guy says faux horn..??? 1900..1940......

What to believe...??

 

I now question my assumptions ........ a little.

 

if it’s possible to date taxidermy

I guess....... if you still have the receipt for the work !! .. otherwise..????

 

apstort.asp

this guy seems right..... but takes shipping liberties..

 

then there's this...
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/antique-faux-tortoiseshell-piece-485619136

 

jeepers........ isn't it the way....
u think u might have something interesting...from long ago...... and then there are 90 of the same thing online ... & u don't know what's what ???

faux-tortoiseshell-dressing-table-box

 

You're welcome! High praise coming from you on both the compliments and the worth of my meager "research" as you've undoubtedly seen many more treasures than I have! I saw examples of antique tortoise cameos in a book and was blown away by how beautiful they were and being such a creative use of a historic material. I did not think i would ever have any due to the rarity, but I have been lucky.

Does it have wavy lines on it's scutes??

Zero buckaroos, but you might get a trade.

The real thing gets called horn, faux, plastic, bakelite... If the seller knows it's tortoise then the price will reflect that though.

 

My hawksbill....... is a real dead turtle ........ scutes and all !!