Featured Unusual beads Cinnebar? Amber?

Discussion in 'Jewelry' started by KSW, May 3, 2022.

  1. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    I bought a tin box from a car boot sale. In it was a collection of stationary items from a British Army Officer in India, silver propelling pencils with hallmarks from 1828 to 1899, British Stationary office pencils some dated 1942 and some fountain pens up to c1930 so quite a wide date range. These beads were in the bottom. it rained at the car boot and some ink came off the dip pens and onto the beads so I had to wash some.
    The beads have me completely bemused. I thought maybe an odd colour amber as they feel/weigh/look like that and faintly fluoresce. Then panicked and thought maybe cinnabar but cinnabar doesn’t fluoresce according to my research.
    Any ideas welcome please :)
    16E02FE9-2EB3-4784-8A73-4DFFC25C9A0E.jpeg 8ADDA077-DF03-4CE7-BE85-5E2CE0A618E5.jpeg DD90C087-34B3-41A7-BBD2-D0EBE19857FF.jpeg 0937CB8A-CAD1-4145-9E50-1E35279C797C.jpeg 5B7BCC85-7D1B-4050-BE8A-E543A5208104.jpeg 93FED436-0142-4F38-8FB5-C25DC9CD6D75.jpeg B4278B3D-8281-4C15-89EF-19C5B8F02598.jpeg 96F6D086-DBCD-47D1-91DD-EB119693CBB6.jpeg
     
  2. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    I don't think either of those. Some kind of semi precious stone.
     
    pearlsnblume and judy like this.
  3. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I wonder if they are bauxite beads. Bauxite is the mineral source for aluminium.
    Bauxite beads are made in some West African countries.
     
    pearlsnblume and antidiem like this.
  4. kyratango

    kyratango Bug jewellery addiction!

    They show kind of same breakage on edges than amber (conchoidal, as a chip in glass!).
    Are they light weight? You may try to burn a tiny broken piece and smell.:)
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  5. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    I thought about that as they are already broken but worried if they were Cinnebar I might die if I took a deep sniff :hilarious:
    Yes, they feel like Amber in every way. I haven’t floated them yet as out of salt.
    Off to Google…….
     
    Any Jewelry likes this.
  6. Any Jewelry

    Any Jewelry Well-Known Member

    I did consider that, old and dried out amber. The UV test wasn't very conclusive, but that happens sometimes with amber.
    Bauxite is worth considering too.
     
  7. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    I've seen some pretty bashed up amber, but if they are, those win the prize for bashedness.
     
    Pat Dennis and KSW like this.
  8. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Distressed is very in fashion don’t you know? :rolleyes:
     
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  9. antidiem

    antidiem Well-Known Member

    :hilarious::hilarious:
     
    pearlsnblume likes this.
  10. evelyb30

    evelyb30 Well-Known Member

    Distressed is one thing. Smooshed is another.
     
    Pat Dennis and KSW like this.
  11. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    They are really interesting

    How many of them are still useable ?
     
    KSW likes this.
  12. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    10
     
  13. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    Sorry I asked
     
  14. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    What? I don’t understand? Did I say something wrong? Completely confused :confused::(
     
    kyratango and BoudiccaJones like this.
  15. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    No you didn't say anything wrong ksw

    But would be nice to be acknowledged

    Rather than just be replied to as 10
     
  16. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Sorry I was flying out of the door in a hurry to get to work.
    I’d never mean to be dismissive or rude.
    :(:sorry:
     
  17. BoudiccaJones

    BoudiccaJones Well-Known Member

    You weren't, you never have been x
     
  18. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Thankyou :kiss:
     
  19. charlie cheswick

    charlie cheswick Well-Known Member

    Really sorry ksw

    I know your not like that

    Moment of madness on my behalf
     
  20. KSW

    KSW Well-Known Member

    Thankyou @charlie cheswick , I am sorry if I upset you, I’d never want to do that.
    :kiss:
     
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