Green early plastic bead necklace

Another of my bead necklaces this week. An olive green, presumably early plastic graduating knotted bead necklace. They are slightly faceted barrel shape and feel quite soft.
The colours are true to life.
Not sure if it's Bakelite or another manufacturer?

 

I don't think Bakelite, but get a cotton bud with a wee bit of Maas on it and rub gently. If it goes yellow, then it's Bakelite.

 

Is that a bug inclusion in the last picture?

 

Could be Dominican amber or another area where green/greenish amber is found, those beads look natural not man made, they're all different sizes and shapes and if thats a bug odds are even better.

 

Amber is possible, but the Dominican stuff I've seen was much browner. It might be Baltic amber, or something else. A look at the bead holes would help narrow it down.

 

Here are some pics of the bead holes, and a couple of other scuffs.

 

I think it's an inclusion of something but it's a long stretch to say it's an insect. More like a bit of vegetation?

 

Try the salt water float test I mentioned in your other thread. 1/3 cup of salt, completely dissoled in 2/3 cup water, if it floats your'e golden.

 

Thanks anund, I'll try in the morning. Bedtime for now

 

great photos Ratsy

 

I wonder if it is a "something" (still) in its pupa stage.

 

I'm seeing ridges in side, so odds are these were drilled. That ups the odds for amber.

 

UV light is the best test.

 

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about amber at all, but do know that it is surprisingly light for its size. Since you do not have anything other than the cord adding to the weight, you can make one (Goldilocks) assessment: when you weigh it in your hand, is it lighter than you would expect if the beads were made of any of the other materials under consideration?; heavier?; about right?

The more I look at the great photos of drill holes, interior & exterior surface texture, shape of chips, the more I think it is some kind of early imitation amber. I don't how to characterize the material in chemical terms.

I posted this pic on another thread a while back, beads that were sold to me as just that, an early attempt at artificial amber.



The metal caps prevent getting a really good sense of size for weight, but I would say, allowing for the metal elements, they feel heavier & denser than I would expect if they were natural amber.

I'm confused by the irregular, bumpy shapes of most of the beads, as if the pieces had been tumbled, but the appearance, especially in that last photo, of having been turned on a lathe.

 

Thanks for that Bronwen. My instinct when I first saw these was early plastic or similar, the colour varience when shone with a light just doesn't look right to me. I tried the salt water test and they sunk. I will try and get hold of some Mass and a uv light this week. They seem to be essentials for bead testing.

Thanks all