Messages

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw Ivory Identification

« on: March 01, 2013, 04:11:43 pm »

After a little more reading, it looks like I might have an ivory tooth from a young sperm whale, which was trimmed at the base (which is why it is small). 

The lack of a strong patina doesn't mean that it is modern...apparently depending on how they were stored/displayed, very old teeth can still look white and younger teeth can have a very dark patina.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw Ivory Identification

« on: March 01, 2013, 03:54:16 pm »

Another thing which makes me believe it is a whale tooth is the presence of a "Golden Crown" at the tip (a distinct yellow section).

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw Ivory Identification

« on: March 01, 2013, 03:48:15 pm »

It is approximately 3.5" around the outside edge and just shy of 3" around the inside edge.  It is about 1" in diameter at the widest point in the opening.  It weighs 1.1 ounces.

Since it is conical inside, rather than flat-bottomed (info I found on the link posted above), it seems like it is a tooth.  However, it is obviously too small to be a sperm whale, unless it was a baby.

I'm almost certain it isn't fake, but I somehow need to figure out if it's actually ivory and not baleen from some other type of whale.  I think that would make a big difference in value.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Scrimshaw Ivory Identification

« on: March 01, 2013, 02:04:53 pm »

Thanks for the links.  I'm going to look into this some more tonight and if I figure anything out I'll update you.  Please keep the comments coming if anybody knows for sure what this is and what it's worth.

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Antique Questions Forum / Scrimshaw Ivory Identification

« on: March 01, 2013, 12:03:45 pm »

I believe this is a genuine ivory scrimshaw from the late 1950s or early 1960s.  It is signed by Harry Apodruk, who was an Alaskan Eskimo scrimshaw artist.  His work was apparently done primarily in the 1940s - to 1960s.  I put a red hot needle on the inside of it and it didn't leave any signs of melting.  It is only 3.5" long, so I'm having trouble identifying it.  Could it be a small sperm whale tooth, or maybe the tip of a walrus tusk?  And how do I go about valuing this item?  It has a crack wihch is close to 1" long and the edge is kind of rough (not smooth).  Since it's almost certainly pre-1972, it would be considered fossil ivory and legal for me to sell, but I'm stuck on trying to figure out exactly what it is and how to authenticate that it is, in fact, genuine ivory.  Thanks for your help.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Help Identifying These Scissors

« on: January 28, 2013, 07:31:39 pm »

And THANK YOU!  I checked Google images and that is indeed what these are.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Help Identifying These Scissors

« on: January 28, 2013, 07:30:23 pm »

How big are they ??  Look like wick trimmers for candles !!  There is a small dark spot in the center !! These are newer than what we usually see !!

They are just shy of 8".   So they are modern and nothing special?

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Antique Questions Forum / Help Identifying These Scissors

« on: January 28, 2013, 07:19:59 pm »

Can anybody tell me what these are and offer an approximate age?  They appear to be some sort of vintage scissors, clippers, or snips, but I can't find any photos which resemble them.  I've looked at sewing, medical, kitchen, glass blowing, and other tools and I've had no luck.  There are NO markings at all on these scissors.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Tiny Vintage Pot with Vented Lid???

« on: November 22, 2012, 05:36:14 pm »

I think ironlord is correct - I found some pics of old chafing dishes and this does appear to be a burner for one of them.  I NEVER would have figured that out on my own.  Thanks!

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Tiny Vintage Pot with Vented Lid???

« on: November 22, 2012, 05:32:49 pm »

If the pot is faily light then i would say its made from copper

It's light...probably about 1/2 pound.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Tiny Vintage Pot with Vented Lid???

« on: November 22, 2012, 05:30:45 pm »

Thanks for the replies.  I posted a photo with the lid off above.  This one is just to put the size into perspective.

Any thoughts on age or value, if any?  If it is part of a chafing dish, I don't have any of the other pieces.

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: Tiny Vintage Pot with Vented Lid???

« on: November 22, 2012, 05:26:19 pm »

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Antique Questions Forum / Tiny Vintage Pot with Vented Lid???

« on: November 22, 2012, 01:06:37 pm »

I can't figure out what this is!  I've googled ember pots, spit pots, potpourri/incense burners, tea steepers, and medicinal pots.  Nothing seems to fit...

I believe this pot is made of copper or brass, but I'm not certain.  There are no markings at all anywhere on the pot.  The diameter of the pot is only 3" and the handle extends another 3" beyond the edge of the pot.  The lid has four vents.  The lid spins to open or close the vents.  The lid is removable.

Can somebody tell me what this is?