Featured Lidded Jar with Carved Flowers

Hi everybody!!


I'm having a question about this lidded jar.
It has beautiful flowers carved on the lid.

I haven't bought it yet. (And maybe I won't)

But I was wondering what the material could be.

The seller says it's alabaster, but I don't think so.

To my opinion it's either jade or soapstone.

Probably chinese? Antique or not?



I hope somebody can help me.
It's not really expensive.
So I want to figure out if there's any profit to make on it.


Thank you very much in advance

 

Soapstone (steatite) is a subcategory of alabaster, less finely grained. Seller is probably correct. Both are easily & frequently dyed. Seriously doubt it is jade, or you would not be able to say:

 

I didn't know that. Thank you. I think I will let this one pass then

 

Alabaster is often coated with a glaze as it dissolves with water.
A lot of alabaster items came from Italy.

 

Soapstone "compressed talc" is a magnesium silicate hydrate mineral,does not remotely resemble alabaster which is a calcium sulphate mineral.

 

With what appears to be bubbles on the bottom of the lid and other locations.....I would question if it were actually stone.

 

Holly is quite correct & I was getting a bit muddled with gypsum & talc. Alabaster is an imprecise term, used for both a gypsum based stone and one that is fundamentally calcite. Talc is too soft, but the two 'alabasters', a little less soft, have been used for carving since antiquity. At the end of the day, think you can rule out jade.

If the little white spots on the underside of the lid are small pits, then Holly is probably also right that the pieces is molded. If they are flat, probably evidence of dye.

 

Very pretty, R.
My first impression was molded glass. So is my second. And third....

I think European or American.

 

It could be glass indeed Thank you very much for all your help!!
Ad definately thought it was chinese. Linked to me thinking that it was soapstone.

 

Italian moulded reconsituted alabaster from about the 1960s. It's been near cigarette smoke. Absolutely not glass with that base to the lid. Pretty typically tourist items sold there then. Ma had lots.

 

Could skin oils left from handling also alter the color?

 

Possibly, but looking at the way it's yellowed, I think ciggie smoke is more likely. It's all over, not in just one or two places.